ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – If you’re a parent in Virginia, you’ve already been watching this fight play out.
The state tried to put a time limit on your kids’ social media; however courts blocked it. Now, the United Kingdom is going even further, announcing a full ban for anyone under 16.
Virginia thought it had a fix to limit kids under 16 to one hour a day on social media, but tech companies sued. A federal judge said it went too far and now, an ocean away, the U.K. isn’t just limiting screen time, it’s banning it altogether.
Here in Roanoke, the Partnership for Community Wellness feels the U.K. is taking a step in the right direction. Executive Director Nancy Hans said a social media ban wouldn’t hurt teens, who need to prioritize their mental health and face to face interactions.
“This is about being very concerned about the mental health of teens and the fact that screens are not going to be their best friend. I know there’s been some really good outcomes in these other countries that says, dialing this back and slowing down when we give this to our teenagers, young people, it really is going to protect their brain,” Hans said.
Virginia’s law is still in legal limbo, but the commonwealth is far from alone. More than a dozen states have tried similar measures, and most have ended up in court.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has said his office intends to fully enforce the state’s social media law, regardless of the federal challenge.
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