For and Against: Social media ban for under-16s
Two headteachers share their thoughts on whether social media apps should be restricted to over-16s, drawing from their own schools’ mobile phone policies and approaches to online safety.
‘Social media can wait, childhood cannot’ – George May, head of Cothill House
The proposal to ban social media for children under 16 receives my full support.
At Cothill, we see every day the difference it makes when children are given space to grow without the constant pull of screens, notifications and online pressure.
We are unashamedly a mobile-free school because we believe childhood deserves protection. When phones are removed from the equation, something remarkable happens. Children talk more. They play more. They learn to sit with boredom long enough for imagination to kick in. In short, they get to be children – not a digitally accelerated version of them.
Our boarders keep in touch with home perfectly well through landlines and supported communication, and staff have phones when safety and logistics require them.
Beyond that, the children are just too busy to think about using one. What we at Cothill aim to create is space – space for creativity, friendship, exploration and the kind of quiet thinking that is becoming increasingly rare.
That is why I welcome the current debate around an under-16 social media ban. Schools can set boundaries during the day, but parents are fighting a much harder battle at home and government backing would be a powerful signal.
Social media can wait. Childhood cannot.
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‘A blanket ban risks driving use underground’ – Matthew Burke, head of Beaulieu Convent School
Recent calls for a ban on social media for under-16s reflect very real concerns, many of which resonate strongly with educators. There is clear evidence that excessive or unregulated use of social media can contribute to anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention, and unhealthy comparison – particularly for younger adolescents.
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At the same time, I believe this is a nuanced issue that resists simple solutions. Social media is not going away, and for many young people it is a space for creativity, connection, activism, and belonging. A blanket ban risks driving use underground, widening the gap between adult understanding and young people’s lived experience.
At Beaulieu, our position is one of education, partnership, and proportionality. We place clear boundaries around device use in school, teach digital literacy explicitly, and work closely with parents to promote age-appropriate, healthy habits at home. Rather than just asking, “How do we restrict?”, we also ask: “How do we teach discernment, self-control, and critical thinking in a digital age?”
I welcome the ISC’s decision to host a range of perspectives on this debate. It is only through open, evidence-informed discussion – listening to pupils, parents, educators, and mental health professionals alike – that we will arrive at solutions that genuinely serve young people’s best interests.