That was how one local 14-year-old at the Archer Academy in East Finchley described social media to me.
I’ve spent the past few months touring local secondary schools, listening to young people’s views about social media, and how we should control it.
The facts are clear.
Our children live in a digital world.
Ninety-seven per cent of 13 to 15-year-olds have their own phone. More shockingly, 19% of three to five-year-olds have them too.
Young people told me how social media supported their learning, helped them build community, and learn creative skills like skating.
Sarah Sackman admits that the harm social media does to teens is personal to her (Image: Betty Laura Zapata)
But the harms were stark.
Teenagers who spend more time on social media have poorer mental health.
I heard about experiences of cyberbullying and children being exposed to sexual or racist content.
They spoke movingly on attention and mood impacts.
We know girls are more likely to have harmful interactions online.
Many shared how the bombardment of images of perfect bodies and skin left them feeling inadequate.
It is clear to me that we must do more to protect children from the ills of social media.
Barnet has already led the way, banning all smartphones in schools.
As the mum to two young girls, this is personal.
I’m one of the nine in ten parents who back the Government’s ban on social media for under-16s.
Building on the example of Australia, this is a bold measure which will help parents, teachers, and young people reclaim their childhood.
Instagram, Tik Tok, X, and YouTube will be blocked. WhatsApp and educational services, music streaming, and platforms designed for kids will be permitted.
In other words, we are keeping the good stuff.
Regulations will be introduced in spring 2027, including age checks and limits to harmful contact from strangers.
The platforms caught by the law will be kept under review as technology changes.
The law is designed to enable a healthier childhood.
The students I met asked how enforcement would work and whether the introduction should be gradual.
One student asked what they were now meant to do with new free time.
These are fair questions.
We’re not looking to punish young people.
We owe it to them – particularly the Covid generation – to ensure there are youth clubs, leisure centres, and parks to support them.
I will keep listening and showing up for our young people.
We agreed that something must change because children deserve a safer online and offline world.
It’s up to all of us to get it right for them.
- Sarah Sackman is Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green.
