One of the UK's largest teaching unions has issued a stark demand to the government: implement a statutory ban on social media access for all children under the age of 16. The NASUWT says urgent action is needed to protect young people's mental wellbeing and to address a growing crisis of poor behaviour in schools linked to online platforms.
Mounting Evidence of Harm in Classrooms
The union points to what it describes as increasing and compelling evidence that unfettered access to social media is having a detrimental impact on pupils. This includes exposure to violent and sexually explicit content, which teachers are increasingly forced to deal with. The call for legislation was amplified by the union's general secretary, Matt Wrack, who stated that social media companies have repeatedly failed to act responsibly without being compelled by law.
"Teachers are dealing every day with the fallout of a social media landscape not originally designed and not suitable for children," Wrack said. He argued that a ban is essential to safeguard children, protect their mental health, and combat the behaviour crisis witnessed in schools across the country.
Overwhelming Teacher Support for a Ban
The union's position is backed by substantial research among its members. A survey of 5,800 teachers found that 81% had reported a rise in pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviour in the last year. Furthermore, 59% of those surveyed believed social media was a significant driving force behind this deterioration in behaviour.
In a separate poll of 300 members, an overwhelming 89% said they would support a statutory social media ban for under-16s. Wrack emphasised that this move would have widespread backing, not just from educators but from parents as well. "Children deserve the chance to grow, learn and form healthy relationships without being pulled into an online world that profits from their vulnerability," he added.
Regulatory Pressure and International Precedent
The NASUWT wants the law tightened so that major technology firms face penalties for allowing under-16s onto their platforms. This push for greater online safety comes as the debate was recently reignited by reports about inappropriate AI-generated imagery on Elon Musk's Grok tool.
The union also highlighted that the UK would not be acting alone. A pioneering social media ban for under-16s was introduced in Australia last month, though its effectiveness is still being evaluated. The education watchdog, Ofsted, has concurrently warned that social media is 'chipping away' at children's attention spans and worsening bad behaviour.
In response, a government spokesperson pointed to existing measures, stating: "We support headteachers to take the necessary steps to prevent disruption in our schools – backed by our guidance, the vast majority already restrict the use of phones in the school day." They also cited the Online Safety Act as one of the world's boldest steps to mandate that social media companies protect under-18s from harmful content, aiming to strike a balance between safety and the benefits of the digital world.
