Bath professor criticises social media ban "based on worry, not evidence"
The UK government has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s
Professor David Ellis from the University of Bath has raised concerns about the UK government's plan to ban social media for under-16s, describing it as driven by anxiety rather than empirical evidence.
The UK government has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s as part of an effort to protect children online and restore traditional childhood experiences.
This move intends to limit children's exposure to potentially harmful online content, refocusing their activities towards developmental experiences.
But Professor Ellis, chair of Behavioural Science at the University of Bath School of Management, said: “This ban is based on worry, not evidence.
"The evidence base as it stands suggests social media has a minuscule effect, if any, on teenagers – particularly once you account for the other factors we know shape childhood development."
"It's also unlikely to be straightforward to enforce, given what we’ve seen elsewhere, and it risks pushing teenagers towards less regulated parts of the internet."
The legislation, backed by 9 out of 10 parents, is expected to be tabled in Parliament before Christmas and enforced by Spring 2027.
It echoes similar measures in Australia and aims to capture platform types that facilitate social interaction, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, while excluding messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal.
"It lets social media companies off the hook: they can divert resources away from making platforms safer, despite the fact that many young people will simply remain on them," added Professor Ellis.
"This is what happens when politics is put before evidence-based policy. Rather than tackling the difficult question, you end up in a worse position than when you started.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the government’s intent to prioritise children's well-being: “Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever."
"I’ve heard firsthand from families crying out for change, and we will do right by them.”