Birmingham television presenter Emma Willis is lending her influential voice to a significant campaign advocating for a ban on social media access for children under the age of sixteen. The well-known host, originally from Sutton Coldfield, is encouraging parents across the region to take a simple yet powerful action that requires just sixty seconds of their time.
A Personal Advocacy for Child Protection
Emma Willis, a mother of three children aged sixteen, thirteen, and nine, has publicly endorsed the Smartphone Free Childhood initiative. She recently shared a direct link to the campaign's official website on her social media platforms, where concerned individuals can locate a pre-written template letter to send to their local Member of Parliament. In her heartfelt Instagram post, Willis emphasised the urgency of the matter, stating, "It's time to raise the age on social media and we can make a difference now."
The Government's Consultation and Global Context
This parental advocacy movement coincides with a formal government consultation launched in the United Kingdom, which is examining the potential prohibition of social media for individuals under sixteen. This proposal forms part of a broader strategy designed to safeguard the mental health and overall wellbeing of young people across the nation. The discussion follows a landmark decision by Australia, which became the first country globally to implement such a ban in December 2025.
Campaign Rationale and Core Arguments
The Smartphone Free Childhood campaign has articulated a clear and compelling case for raising the minimum age for social media usage. Campaign organisers argue that the current digital landscape is not adequately serving families or protecting vulnerable children. They draw a parallel with other age-restricted activities, noting, "Everyone agrees that children and adults need different rules. That's why we have age limits on alcohol, driving, gambling, films, games and more."
The campaign further explains that contemporary social media platforms are fundamentally adult-oriented environments, engineered with algorithms that prioritise capturing user attention rather than fostering genuine wellbeing. Proponents stress that implementing an age restriction does not equate to cutting children off from the internet or their peers entirely. Instead, it is presented as a measured approach to grant young people additional years of development before they engage with these complex, algorithm-driven digital spaces.
A Call to Collective Action
Emma Willis's involvement highlights a growing national conversation about the responsibilities of technology companies and the role of legislation in protecting minors online. By directing her substantial following towards a straightforward political action—sending an email to their MP—she aims to translate widespread concern into tangible policy change. The campaign underscores that while social media can offer certain benefits, the potential risks for children, including exposure to harmful content and addictive design features, are now considered too great to ignore without stricter safeguards.
