Some Nottingham parents say a ban on social media for under-16s could help protect children from ‘misogynist and right-wing propaganda’ – but others fear it will prove ineffective.
A consultation on the move was announced by the Government on Monday (January 19) as part of new measures it says are intended to “protect young people”.
Research by the Youth Sport Trust show that as many as 99 per cent of 16 to 25-year-olds use social media every day.
The data also shows although children under 12 are below the age limit for opening social media accounts, 75 per cent still actively use them.
The world’s first social media ban for under 16s was launched in Australia in December 2025.
But on Sunday, January 18, more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to the Prime Minister backing a ban – which the Government had previously opposed.
And, as of Wednesday January 21, more than 132,102 people have signed a petition calling for the ban.
Terry Sisson, 59, from Nottingham, said she is in favour of the proposed ban.
She said: “With the amount of misogynist and right-wing propaganda online in this day and age, I am not surprised this could happen.
“They (young people) are way too young and impressionable to understand this stuff, and should provide a valid form of identification proving their age before they are allowed online.”
She said: “Through the Online Safety Act, this government has already taken clear, concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people.
“These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.”
Franklin Terry, 68, from Nottingham thinks social media is essential for communication.
“What’s wrong with social media?
“It’s an essential part of modern communication”, he said.
Maurine, 61 from Nottingham doesn’t think the proposed ban would work.
She said: “If my daughter was under 16, she would find a way to get back on social media.
“To know that children as young as 10 are on certain sites is terrible, but unfortunately we are in a chronically online age, and I think it’s here to stay.”
Government data shows that almost all primary schools and nine in ten secondary schools already have mobile phone policies in place.
Despite this, more than half of secondary school pupils say phones are still used without permission during lessons — rising to nearly two-thirds among 14 to 16-year-olds.
Jane Nixon, 62, from Nottingham is a teacher who opposes the proposed ban.
Jane said: “I find the idea quite frightening, 16-year-olds are nearly adults and should have the right to access social media.
“But children as young as four are accessing TikTok now, which is also a distressing thought.”
The Government says the consultation will seek views from parents, young people and civil society and include a series of events in a nationwide tour. A response to the consultation will then follow in the summer before any further changes in the law are proposed.
