Commissioner Nicola Killean warns against social media ban for under 16s

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has stated that a ban on social media for under-16s would not, at present, be a proportionate, effective, or practical approach to protecting children’s rights.

Commissioner Nicola Killean says current evidence does not demonstrate that a universal ban would improve children’s online safety and warns it could instead drive young people towards less regulated and potentially more harmful areas of the internet. She argues that stronger safeguards are needed and that social media platforms should take greater responsibility for preventing online harms.

Her comments form part of a response to the UK Government’s ‘Growing Up in the Online World’ consultation, which is examining a range of proposals, including the introduction of a minimum age requirement for accessing social media.

It is considering whether to introduce a legal minimum age for social media, alongside limits on features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, and stronger age checks.

The review forms part of wider efforts to build on the Online Safety Act, with ministers saying it will help shape future laws on how young people use the internet.

To inform its submission, the Commissioner’s office carried out a Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA), evaluating both the potential benefits and drawbacks of the proposals for children and young people. The assessment considered international children’s rights standards as well as the existing body of published evidence.

The office also consulted its Young Advisors – a group of 12 to 17-year-olds from across Scotland – whose views helped shape the response.

Ms Killean said: “Evidence shows that social media can expose children to serious risks, including harmful content, cyberbullying, manipulation, contact from strangers, exploitation and excessive use. However, it also shows that social media can play an important role in many children’s lives by supporting communication, self-expression, access to information, participation, play, and connection with communities and support networks.

“Using a children’s rights impact assessment allows us to take a rights-based approach to the current evidence. The evidence so far on bans is limited, mixed, and still emerging. Blanket restrictions can risk shifting responsibility away from platforms and onto children. A ban does little to address underlying issues such as exploitative algorithms, and business models that drive harmful content and engagement.”

You can read more of her response on the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland website.

You can read what Children in Scotland had to say by clicking here.