Lucy Bryan, a 39-year-old beauty therapist from Tamworth, Staffordshire, is concerned that her 10-year-old daughter Lois will experience severe withdrawal symptoms when the UK government's social media ban for under-16s comes into force in spring 2027. Lois currently spends up to five hours a day on social media, primarily watching make-up tutorials on YouTube, and has developed mood swings and a desire to wear full makeup at age 10.
Daily YouTube Habit Causes Concern
Lucy gave Lois a tablet at age three and a phone at age eight. Lois now spends five hours daily watching make-up videos, which has led her to believe she looks "ugly" without makeup. Lucy said: "She wants to leave the house with contour, foundation and concealer. When I tell her she's not allowed, she acts like I'm the worst parent in the world."
Lois admitted: "I was so angry when I heard about the ban. I'll really miss social media, especially when I'm bored as I just go on YouTube and start scrolling through make-up videos." She acknowledged her addiction, saying: "I do think I've got addicted to it, and it does change my behaviour."
Withdrawal Symptoms Feared
Lucy compared the ban to "suddenly taking cigarettes off a smoker, with no nicotine patches." She said: "She has such bad mood swings. If we tell her she can't use her phone, it creates a bit of a monster. I'm really worried about the long-term effects of it on her mental health."
Lucy is calling for government support to help parents manage children's withdrawal symptoms. She said: "It made me think about what support parents are going to be given to help kids through the withdrawal symptoms they're going to have from social media addiction."
Impact on Behaviour and Schoolwork
The addiction has affected Lois's schoolwork, and she now prefers staying home to watch YouTube rather than attending school. Lucy said Lois's camera roll is full of pouting selfies, adding: "It's not what you want to see, she should be playing with toys."
Lucy worries that Lois will use VPNs to bypass the ban, fostering a culture of lying and secrecy. Despite this, Lucy supports the ban and hopes Lois will eventually benefit: "I'm looking forward to 12 months after the ban, when her brain has reset to normality. I'm so glad my younger daughter, Charlotte, will never have to go through this."
Early Exposure to Social Media
Lois was given an Amazon Fire Tablet at age three to watch YouTube Kids. By age six, she was watching make-up tutorials at friends' houses. Lucy said: "I found it really weird that she would sit for hours watching videos of other children playing, instead of playing herself."
Lois's Christmas list now includes perfume and skincare, not toys. Lucy believes the videos have made Lois think like a 16- or 17-year-old, causing body dysmorphia concerns. She said: "She told me she looks ugly without make-up, which really resonated with me, as she's only 10 years old."
