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Should social media really be banned for under-16s, or are we trying to solve a much bigger problem with one simple rule?

In this episode of The Girls Gap, Ellis and Mikaela look at what it means to grow up online and whether banning social media for young people will actually protect them.

After discussing the story of a 14-year-old who reportedly suffered an allergic reaction after being influenced by online skincare content, the girls compare the social media young people experience today with the internet they grew up with. From MSN, BBM and Bebo to Snapchat and the wild west of Omegle, was the old internet actually any safer?

They also get into screen time, influencer culture, livestreaming, online validation, location sharing and the changing role of parents in a world where children are surrounded by connected devices from an increasingly young age.

So, is banning social media really the answer, or do parents, platforms and policymakers need to find a better way of helping young people navigate life online? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Timestamps:

00:00 The story that sparks the social media ban debate
01:16 Growing up online then vs. now
03:21 BBM, Snapchat and Bebo nostalgia
07:02 When social media became about selling
07:57 Can teenagers simply bypass a ban?
08:22 Parenting kids in a digital world
10:02 Livestreaming and the wild west of Omegle
12:03 From Facebook influencers to TikTok influencers
15:22 How much screen time is too much?
20:58 Being a teenager in front of millions
22:10 Likes, validation and posting anxiety
25:25 Is a social media ban really the answer?
28:04 The verdict: education, parenting or a ban?

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