A Social Media Ban Is a Brilliant Start –
But It Is Not the Whole Solution
A Positive Step Forward
Like many parents, teachers and practitioners, I was encouraged to hear the discussion of raising the age for social media access.
The work of Smartphone Free Childhood and thousands of families across the country has helped bring this issue into the national conversation. That deserves recognition.
Giving children a few more years before they are exposed to the full force of the online world can only be a positive step.
But we must not fall under the illusion that banning social media alone will solve everything.
Before Smartphones, Harm Already Existed
Long before Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube existed, children were still exposed to unhealthy ideas, behaviours and influences. I am one of those who was affected before the times of smartphones. When what I was facing was too much, I learned from those around me unhealthy ways to deal with this discomfort. Back then, we would have blamed the other individual or individuals involved. Now we are saying it’s not only their fault but also the platform’s, and if it can’t be held to account, we must put in place the safety measures. The idea is that access must be controlled or blocked to protect the young people. But it should be noted that since we started using prohibition – alcohol, drugs and being the big ones – is that although these bans were created, the product, the idea, the risk never ceased to exist. They, or whatever, were being banned, went underground, and that is where they have sadly become most dangerous.
What Makes the Digital World Different?
The difference between the past and today is not that these influences suddenly exist. The difference is that they are available to more children, more often, and at some of the most vulnerable times of the day and night.
I was one of the early ones who had that online message stuff in my childhood. Suddenly, the school day and any stress it brought didn’t end at the end of the school day; instead, it continued at home. Now, a child no longer has to wait until school on Monday to hear something confusing, upsetting or inappropriate. They can encounter it at midnight, alone in their bedroom. They can be exposed to unrealistic beauty standards, harmful challenges, bullying, pornography, conspiracy theories, extremist views or dangerous misinformation within seconds.
That is what makes the digital world different. Not necessarily the content itself, but the accessibility, the speed, the volume and the fact that many children are navigating it without enough support.
Algorithms and Young Minds
Algorithms were a dream come true for those who wanted to sell products. Today, however, we are increasingly seeing those same algorithms used to sell ideas, behaviours and content that can be harmful to young minds. That is deeply concerning, and of course, we want to do everything possible to protect children.
A ban on social media for under-16s may be a positive step, but we should be realistic about its limitations. Most of us can remember finding ways around age restrictions when we were young. Did you ever borrow an older sibling’s ID? Did you ever try to sneak into a film that you were too young to see?
Why a Ban Alone Is Not Enough
I certainly did. I still remember the embarrassment of being asked for proof of age and being escorted out of a 15-rated film when I was only 12. Children are curious. They push boundaries. They always have, and they always will.
That is why education must sit alongside any ban. If children are going to encounter difficult, confusing or disturbing content online, we need to ensure they feel safe talking to trusted adults about what they have seen—without fear of judgement, punishment or shame.
A ban on social media for under-16s will almost certainly reduce access, but it is unlikely to eliminate it entirely.
Let us be honest: young people are often the first people we ask when technology confuses us. They are resourceful, curious and incredibly capable when it comes to navigating the digital world. Wherever restrictions exist, there will always be people looking for ways around them, and others willing to profit by helping them do so.
History has repeatedly shown us that prohibition alone rarely solves a problem. This does not mean the ban is a bad idea. Far from it. It may be an important and necessary step. But if we genuinely want to make a lasting difference, it cannot be the only step.
Education Must Sit Alongside Legislation
If we truly want to protect children, education must sit alongside legislation.
We need to teach children from a young age that curiosity is normal. That if they come across something strange, confusing, frightening or fascinating, they can talk about it openly without fear of shame, punishment or judgement.
The Importance of Safe Conversations
Children should grow up knowing there is always a trusted adult they can turn to—a parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, coach or family friend. Someone who will listen before they lecture. Someone who creates safety before offering advice.
Because when children feel safe enough to talk, harmful content loses much of its power. Secrets thrive in silence. Protection begins with conversation.
Because the moment a child feels they cannot talk about something, that thing gains power.
When Silence Gives Something Power
Secrets grow in silence.
Fear grows in silence.
Shame grows in silence.
Conversation removes much of that danger.
Imagine a world where children felt comfortable saying, “I found something online that confused me.”
Or, “I saw something that made me feel uncomfortable.”
Or even, “My friends are talking about something, and I do not understand it.”
Those conversations could prevent significant harm.
How EFT Can Help
As an EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner, I often see that the challenge is not simply what children are exposed to. It is how those experiences make them feel.
Children today are carrying huge emotional loads. Anxiety, social pressure, fear of missing out, comparison, bullying, low self-esteem, perfectionism and loneliness are becoming increasingly common experiences.
EFT offers a gentle, practical way to help children process these emotions safely. By combining conversation with tapping on acupressure points, EFT can help calm the nervous system and reduce the emotional intensity connected to difficult experiences.
Children can use EFT to manage anxiety, process worries about friendships, build confidence, recover from bullying, reduce feelings of overwhelm and develop greater emotional resilience.
Perhaps most importantly, EFT helps create space for honest conversation. The tapping itself is often only part of the process. The real transformation happens when a child realises it is safe to say how they feel, to talk about difficult subjects and to ask questions.
That lesson alone can change a life.
I welcome any step that helps protect children. Delaying access to social media could be one of the most significant public health decisions for young people in recent years.
But protecting childhood has never been solely about technology.
It is about relationships.
It is about communication.
It is about emotional literacy.
It is about helping children understand themselves and the world around them.
The Real Goal
The goal is not simply to keep children away from harmful things. The goal is to raise young people who know how to navigate difficult things when they eventually encounter them.
Because one day they will.
And when that day comes, what will protect them most is not a ban alone. It will be knowing that they can talk, that they will be heard and that they have the emotional tools to cope.
Education is where the real work begins.
And it is not just children who need that education.
We as adults need to step up, too.
We need to become less judgmental and more curious.
Less reactive and more willing to listen.
We need to create homes, schools and communities where questions are welcomed rather than feared.
Being different is not the same as being wrong.
Being curious is not the same as being dangerous.
But when something is dangerous, the best response is not silence—it is conversation.
Because the moment we can talk openly about something, we begin to take away its power.
And perhaps that is one of the most important gifts we can give the next generation: not a world free from challenges, but the confidence to talk about them when they arise.
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If any of this has resonated – do reach out – www.eftforme.com –
One step at a time, navigating life with the support of EFT.
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