Ban social media for under-16s urged by top teaching union

The NASUWT has called on the UK government to introduce a statutory ban on social media for under-16s, saying unregulated access is harming pupils' mental health and behaviour; the government points to the Online Safety Act and school phone guidance as current protections.

One of the UK's largest teaching unions, NASUWT, has urged the government to ban social media use by under-16s and to tighten legislation so platforms face penalties for allowing children access. The union says evidence is growing that unregulated social media use harms pupils' mental health and affects behaviour and concentration in school. The call followed wider online safety concerns raised this month after reports about an AI tool altering images, and after Australia introduced an under-16s social media ban last month. Key points: - NASUWT has asked for a statutory ban on social media for under-16s and for stronger enforcement against platforms that allow access. - The union's surveys reported teachers seeing rises in poor behaviour and that a majority of respondents linked social media to that deterioration. - A government spokesperson said existing measures, including the Online Safety Act and guidance allowing schools to restrict phones, are intended to protect children; Australia has recently introduced a similar ban but its impact is not yet clear. Summary: The union's proposal focuses on tighter legal controls to limit children's access to social media amid reports of harm to pupils' wellbeing and classroom behaviour. Undetermined at this time.