LET'S PUT SOCIAL MEDIA HARMS ON HOLD

Exclusive polling for the Express reveals that while smartphones remain a key safety tool for teenagers, a majority of Britons back government intervention to stop under-16s accessing addictive and damaging content

- By Matt Nixson

THE OVERWHELMING majority of Britons want the UK to follow Australia in banning social media accounts for under-16s, according to extensive polling on smartphones and young people for the Daily

Express. Eight out of 10 of those questioned backed moves to limit the ability of young teenagers to access addictive and damaging social media content amid fears many spend too much time on their screens.

The Australian ban, which came into force in December, is the first of its kind. It stops under-16s accessing content from 10 major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Snapchat and Instagram.

Announcing the policy, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the "worldleading move" had been driven "overwhelmingly" by the concerns of parents.

He said: "I've had the sombre experience of meeting with mums and dads who have seen their child's well-being crushed by the worst of social media." Social media giants stand accused of creating harmful algorithms that parents claim have led to addiction, radicalisation, selfharm and even suicide.

Last week the House of Lords voted decisively for a full social media ban for under16s backing an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing Bill by Conservative peer Lord Nash in favour of such a measure in the UK. And polling of more than 2,000 adults ahead of Safer Internet Day today, reveals a majority of Britons - 80%-would support such a move. Just 10% of those questioned opposed the idea, while another 10% remained undecided.

Digital safety has become a key conservative values issue.