The NASUWT is calling to ban social media for under-16s, warning of growing harm to children’s mental health, wellbeing and safety online
The NASUWT teachers’ union is calling for a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, citing serious concerns about online harm, mental health risks, and the impact of social media on young people’s wellbeing. The union is urging the UK government to take stronger action to protect children from digital platforms that prioritise engagement over safety.
Legislation and safeguards needed to protect children
The Union’s National Executive has called for primary legislation banning access and for legally enforceable age-verification and compliance mechanisms to force tech firms to prevent children from accessing their social media platforms.
The driver behind this call for a ban is growing evidence that suggests unregulated access to social media is fuelling a crisis in behaviour and causing harm to children and young people, including adverse impacts on mental health, reduced capacity for social engagement, and exposure to misinformation, cyberbullying, violent and sexually explicit content.
Furthermore, evidence from NASUWT teachers indicates that sustained use of social media by children leads to reductions in attention span, concentration, and capacity for sustained learning, due in part to overexposure to highly stimulating, short-form digital content. Teachers report that students are increasingly distracted in classrooms, struggle to engage with extended reading or learning tasks, and exhibit higher levels of anxiety linked to online pressures.
In recent survey work with members on behaviour, a majority of teachers (59%) thought that social media was the driving factor behind deteriorating behaviour in schools.
NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “Teachers are dealing every day with the fallout of a social media landscape not originally designed and not suitable for children. Social media companies have shown time and again that they will not act responsibly unless they are forced to do so.
“If we are serious about safeguarding children, protecting their mental health and combating the behaviour crisis in our schools, then a statutory ban for under‑16s must happen urgently. Our members tell us that social media is now one of the biggest drivers of poor behaviour, anxiety, and disengagement in the classroom. Children deserve the chance to grow, learn, and form healthy relationships without being pulled into an online world that profits from their vulnerability.
“We believe the Government should join other countries and help children and young people by moving to a ban which would have widespread support among parents, teachers, and child welfare experts. Protecting the next generation from the negative effects of excessive social media use is not just a matter of policy—it is essential for their mental health, educational success, and future wellbeing.”
