Kent trauma therapist calls for action as Australia bans social media for under-16s
Long-term mental health impacts on children "worsening"
A trauma therapist from Tunbridge Wells has warned of the lasting damage social media can cause to young people, calling for the UK to follow Australia’s lead in banning access for under-16s.
Linzi Meaden, who leads the Kent campaign for smartphone-free childhood, believes social media platforms have created an unregulated and harmful environment for children. She said, “Social media and smartphones are adult products. They’ve been designed for adults, not for children—and it’s having a damaging impact.”
Mrs Meaden commended Australia’s decision to introduce a ban from 10th December that prevents children under 16 from creating social media accounts.
However, prominent figures in the tech sector have cautioned against the effectiveness of such bans, questioning their implementation.
Former TikTok general manager Richard Waterworth criticised the move by Australia, saying that although he supports the intention, the ban could lead to “unintended consequences.”
Mr Waterworth expressed concerns that children may lie about their age or miss out on safety tools like parental account links and designed feeds.
“The ban could push children onto more unregulated platforms, and age verification technology has its own challenges,” Mr Waterworth said. “Unfortunately, this is not necessarily a win for safety.”
In the UK, Andy Burrows, CEO of the Molly Rose Foundation, also called for stronger regulation rather than outright bans, advocating for platforms to incorporate safety and wellbeing by design to protect teens.
The impact of social media on children
Mrs Meaden has seen first-hand in her trauma therapy clinic how social media exposure shapes long-term mental wellbeing.
She tells Greatest Hits and Hits Radio about the connection between early social media use, low self-esteem, and an increase in anxiety, panic attacks, and depression in adulthood.
She said, “Smartphones and social media foster unhealthy comparisons, exposing children to inappropriate content while they’re still forming basic judgments. The neurological hooks embedded in these platforms trigger dopamine loops that make them addictive—it’s harming children and future generations."
For Mrs Meaden, the consequences extend beyond immediate concerns. She explained, “Trauma from witnessing distressing or inappropriate content as a child can stay embedded in the body and mind, manifesting years later in subtle ways such as anxiety or depression. It’s essential to protect childhood innocence while we can.”
Her campaign advocates for higher age restrictions, suggesting platforms be limited to those over 17 or 18. “Children should be free to play, make eye contact, and explore the real world—not spend their few formative years glued to screens,” Meaden added.
A wider cultural issue
Linzi Meaden also addressed how social media is influencing unrealistic beauty standards for children. She spoke of increasing concerns, such as young girls feeling pressure to apply skincare routines advertised on platforms like TikTok.
“Social media platforms are marketing perfectionism to children as young as nine or ten—convincing them to start skincare routines to slow ageing, which is utterly ridiculous,” Mrs Meaden said. “Children should be experiencing playful mess, not worrying about appearances. It’s deeply damaging.”
A call for collective action
Linzi Meaden called for better understanding among parents, educators, and the government. “This isn’t just about banning platforms; it’s about coming together to say ‘enough is enough’ and to create safeguards that protect children’s mental health,” she said.
She hopes the UK will take action, noting, “Australia is leading the way, and in 5, 10, or 20 years, we’ll look back and wonder why we left it so long to act.”
Despite challenges to implementation, Meaden is steadfast in her belief that change is necessary to ensure better outcomes for future generations.
“Let kids live offline—they deserve their childhoods to be full of real experiences rather than harmful online ones,” she concluded.
For information on online safety for children, visit Childline .