Portsmouth cybercrime expert says proposed social media ban for under 16s is "problematic"
It's after Australia introduced the ban last month for under 16s
As debates continue over whether a social media ban should be introduced for under 16s, a Portsmouth cybercrime expert's telling us it's a "knee-jerk reaction".
It's after Australia introduced the ban last month and debates are continuing around the ban and use of mobile phones in schools.
Lisa Sugiura, a University of Portsmouth cybercrime and gender professor, says a blanket ban could be "really problematic".
She said: "It's unsurprising that these discussions are happening, given the implementation in Australia of the banning of social media for under 16s.
"It's obviously off the back of very real concerns around children's online safety.
"Especially with what they are exposed to in an unregulated space, and the kind of content that they're engaging with.
"You know, a myriad of harmful issues from self harm, misogyny to racism.
"However, I have some concerns about this and feel it may be a knee-jerk reaction.
"A kind of simplistic approach that is misunderstanding both the context of what is happening online and the problem regarding children accessing harmful content."
Ms Sugiura's telling us more about what issues she feels could arise from a social media ban for under 16s.
She added: "These are pretty complex social issues, and that's never going to be solved by just having these simple technological fixes.
"Harms online are not separate from harms offline, they're interconnected.
"Our activities and experiences today are interconnected.
"Having a blanket ban and just cutting off such a key aspect of young people's lives can be really problematic and actually cause more problems in the long run.
"Social media's such a big part of how young people connect every single day, and taking it away can also risk leaving them without spaces that they rely on for the very real connection and support."
It also comes after the Education Secretary wrote to headteachers in England to stress that schools should be phone-free for the entire school day.