Social media ban idea is challenged

FEWER than one in six young people say a social media ban would make them feel safer online, a new survey has found.

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More than seven in 10 (72%) children aged 10 to 16 said social media companies need to do more to protect young people, in a poll for Girlguiding. It was published as the Government launches a consultation today on an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s.

Nearly one in four (24%) of the 2,000 young people polled said they do not feel in control of what appears on their social media feed, and two in five (40%) said they have seen violent or upsetting videos online. Despite this, only 15% said a ban would actually make them feel safer online.