LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A proposed social media ban for children under 16 in the United Kingdom is reigniting conversations about how to protect young people online — and whether similar measures could eventually gain traction in the United States.
The proposal would block children from accessing platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
Benjamin Morse, a lecturer at UNLV’s Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, said while the intent behind the proposal is understandable, he believes an outright ban misses the mark.
“I think that what the UK is doing is the equivalent of mom or dad slamming down the laptop, closing the door and leaving the room,” Morse said. “And I don’t think it’s going to work.”
Instead, Morse said the focus should shift toward teaching young people how to navigate social media responsibly.
“We have people in positions of power right now who did not grow up with this, who didn’t even raise kids in it,” Morse said. “And they can’t wrap their heads around it, which is why I think you see things like bans.”
“Rather than banning social media across the board, I think we need to figure out how do you responsibly teach kids to use it?” he added.
Morse said he would not be surprised to see similar proposals eventually make their way to state legislatures or Congress as concerns continue to grow about the dangers social media can pose to younger users.
Janna Velasco, executive director of Hope Means Nevada, said social media has fundamentally changed the way young people experience bullying, comparison and outside pressures.
“When I was growing up, school stayed at school. It didn’t follow me,” Velasco said. “And if it did, if there was a comparison or bullying, something like that happening, it would have to go through my parents’ phone, the house phone. And now it’s going directly to kids all day.”
Velasco said conversations surrounding the UK’s proposal can serve as an opportunity for parents to discuss healthy technology habits with their children and help them establish boundaries.
“It’s okay to turn off your phone for a day,” Velasco said. “If you don’t respond to your friends, they’ll still be there in 24 hours. Set a boundary, try to take a step back maybe, try to say, ‘Hey, you know what, I’m going to do screen-free.'”
Morse said the reality is that social media is already deeply integrated into everyday life, making education and parental involvement critical.
“I think it’s got to be more of a guided experience,” Morse said. “It’s the same way you teach a kid to ride a bike. We’ve got to teach them to use Facebook, which sounds insane, but it’s true.”
Velasco also encouraged parents to create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their emotions and mental health challenges.
“Check in with your kids, have really open conversations about how they feel on a daily basis and take any sort of stigma off from your household about having a conversation about suicide and how they feel,” Velasco said.
Morse said that when it comes to social media, “the genie is out of the bottle,” and the conversation now needs to focus on how families, educators and communities can work together to make online spaces safer for young people.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The service is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Southern Nevadans can also connect with Hope Means Nevada, a nonprofit focused on teen mental health and suicide prevention that provides education, resources and support for young people and their families. Additional information about the organization and its programs is available through Hope Means Nevada.
