Social media for under 16s

That this House acknowledges the devastating impact of social media on children's mental health, development, and safety; believes that tech companies have for too long prioritised profit over protection, exploiting children through addictive algorithms and treating young people as data to be mined rather than individuals whose wellbeing must be safeguarded; calls for a ban on harmful social media for under-16s based on a children’s risk assessment with age-appropriate guidance, including risk of addiction; recognises the urgent need to take action and set a default age of 16 for social media use; understands the need to protect children’s rights and wellbeing online with access to safe online spaces; further recognises the need to build on lessons from Australia’s social media ban to future proof against new platforms, other online harms such as games and emerging technology such as AI; highlights it is vital that the burden of age-appropriate proof lies with social media companies and the responsibility for safe design stays with tech companies; and calls on the Government to support this framework to ensure big tech is held to account and children are protected online.