"The UK government has begun consulting on a possible Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s, citing rising concerns about mental health, online abuse and harmful content. The Independent visited FlippGen and Beyond's The Table, a youth-led discussion on online safety, to hear what young people think about it, with some branding the proposals as "attacking the symptoms rather than the root cause."
"16-year-old Jaan said, I've had leukemia for three years. During the whole process, I felt incredibly isolated... connecting with friends through social media has helped me so much. The Independent takes a closer look at an issue dividing the generations."
The UK government has begun a consultation on an Australian-style ban on social media access for under-16s, motivated by concerns about young people's mental health, exposure to online abuse and harmful content. A youth-led forum called The Table produced mixed reactions, with some participants saying the proposals would address symptoms rather than root causes such as platform design, moderation failures and social pressures. A 16-year-old named Jaan described feeling isolated during a three-year leukemia battle and said connecting with friends via social media provided vital support. The proposals highlight a generational divide over youth protection and online connection.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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