Submitted by la334 on Fri, 20/02/2026 - 10:13
Pressure is mounting in the UK for restrictions on young people’s social media use, following Australia’s decision to introduce a ban for under-16s last December.
The UK government has launched a public consultation exploring a range of options — including a potential ban — and is seeking new legal powers to act more quickly if needed.
In this episode, Professor Amy Orben, Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, and David Aaronovitch examine what the evidence actually shows about the impact of social media on children and young people, particularly on mental health and harm. The programme explores whether an outright ban would be effective, and considers alternative approaches — such as stronger regulation, age verification, platform accountability, and parental controls — that might reduce risks without fully prohibiting access.