Locked out I'm 15 and disabled. The social media ban will make my world smaller

The government has decided that as of this week I should be banned from social media because of the potential harm it can cause.

- Ezra Sholl

But as a teenager with a severe disability, who relies on social media for connection, community and access to a largely inaccessible world, this policy actually has the potential to create further harm.

When I was 12, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which triggered a rare nerve condition that has paralysed me. My preteen years were spent in an ICU ward, on a ventilator, going through chemotherapy.

Before I got sick I did not have any social media. It turned out that all I had to do was end up in a coma, because when I woke, I had a new iPhone 14, with every accessibility feature. Having Instagram and Snapchat made me feel less disconnected. I had a window to the outside world, and my friends had a window into mine.

Social media is a powerful thing, especially for teenagers transitioning into adulthood. And I understand why there is a need to restrict it or monitor it, especially for children and young teenagers.