Mumsnet has launched a national campaign demanding a ban on social media for all individuals under the age of 16. The initiative features stark health warnings on billboards and digital platforms, drawing parallels to those on cigarette packets.
Campaign messaging highlights research linking over three hours of daily social media use to increased self-harm risk in teens, and states that phone addiction doubles anxiety risk. It also points to increased risks of eating disorders and suicidal behavior associated with addictive social media use.
Justine Roberts, Mumsnet founder, stated, "Families are living with the harm caused by social media every day. This isn’t about parents failing to set boundaries. It’s about children being exposed to products deliberately designed to be addictive." She emphasized that parents cannot overcome business models built on addiction and called for decisive political action.
Research from Mumsnet users indicates 92% of parents are concerned about social media's impact on children's mental health, with over 60% believing their child is addicted to their phone or social media. Student Sedona Jamieson shared her experience of encountering harmful content in online "recovery" spaces, underscoring the vulnerability of developing minds.
The government is considering measures to curb under-16s' social media access, with a consultation planned for summer. The Royal College of Psychiatrists supports greater regulation, advocating for data sharing by social media providers to better understand the link between algorithms and mental health.