A Birmingham step-dad has praised the under-16s social media ban as an important 'first step' but acknowledged there is still 'more that needs to be done' to tackle malicious content online.
Adam, 42, from Kings Heath, is the step-dad to a 12-year-old boy, who is one of millions of young people set to be impacted by new regulations blocking under-16s from accessing social media.
Sir Keir Starmer announced measures for a 'full ban' of social media platforms for children under 16 earlier today (June 15), with official restrictions projected to come into place next spring.
Parent and educator perspective
Speaking about whether he believes the ban is positive, Kings Heath step-dad Adam said: 'I think it is. At my age, I remember not having it [social media] growing up. It just wasn't a thing.'
Adam explained he was around 16 or 17 before social media came into popularity, but once it did, platforms such as Facebook became an 'obsession'.
'I remember becoming sort of obsessed with it at the time, and I think that's where people go with it, and there becomes an obsession around it,' the dad, who works in the education sector, shared.
Adam touched on how 'easily influenced' children can be by behaviours posted online, which he says can often be portrayed as 'how you should act or speak or behave.'
The step-dad, who also runs Kings Heath Community Kitchen, shared that his step-son does not have access to any social media platforms, with restricted YouTube the only application he is allowed to use.
Impact on young people
Adam went on: 'I think it's [the restrictions] helped massively, to be honest. I've worked in the care sector. We've had children of 16 or 17 going through the care sector and about to leave it and I've seen the influence that it's had on them, particularly around some music, and stuff with gangs, drugs and violence. I think it [has] really influenced them.'
While the Kings Heath local is not too concerned about the impact the ban will have on his step-son due to his young age, he acknowledged it is likely to be an adjustment for those who are having it taken away completely, having used it previously.
'I think it would be different if he [step-son] did have it and then all of a sudden the ban comes in, because I think actually he would have got used to it so quickly. But actually, as soon as it's removed, you know, it would be quite noticeable - but I'd like to think the behaviours would change,' Adam said.
He added: 'You know if you're 14 or 15 with social media and then all of a sudden it's removed, I'd like to think that you'd kind of regress a little bit back into that kind of childhood of finding other things to do.'
More work needed
Reflecting on the complete ban due to be imposed next year, while Adam acknowledged its benefits, he said it is unlikely the legislation will completely stop some of the malicious activity which takes place online.
'No, I don't think it's going to be a silver bullet that's going to stop it,' he said. 'I think there's a lot more that needs to be done around it.'
However, he commended the government's decision to take the 'difficult first step' towards dealing with issues concerning young people online.
He said: 'I think what they [government] have got to do, if they do bring the ban in, is to have a plan to be able to then follow up and say 'how do we tackle bullying online? how do we tackle the influence that online has?''
