Social media platforms should be prohibited for individuals under the age of 16 to enhance focus in educational settings and mitigate negative impacts on mental well-being, as stated by a prominent teaching union.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has called on the government to mandate major tech companies to block underage access to their platforms, following Australia’s decision to implement a similar ban for individuals under 16 years old in December. NASUWT asserts that mounting evidence indicates that unrestricted use of social media is contributing to disruptive behavior in schools, harming the mental health of young individuals, and exposing them to harmful content.
This initiative coincides with a controversy surrounding X’s AI chatbot, Grok, which has been reported to generate sexualized images of individuals, including minors, upon user request. Matt Wrack, the general secretary of NASUWT, emphasized the challenges faced by teachers due to the negative consequences of social media on young people, urging for urgent implementation of a statutory ban for those under 16 years old.
A survey conducted by NASUWT among 5,800 teacher members in 2025 revealed that approximately 81% reported an escalation in violent and abusive behavior among students, with nearly 59% attributing this trend to the influence of social media. An additional poll of 300 members indicated that 89% supported the implementation of a legal prohibition on social media for individuals below the age of 16.
Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, expressed readiness to support regulatory action by Ofcom against X in case of non-compliance with UK regulations. Recent adjustments made by X to Grok’s settings, restricting image manipulation requests to paid subscribers, have been observed following these developments.
The head of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) raised concerns at the end of the previous year regarding the detrimental impact of social media on children’s attention spans and behavior. A public opinion poll conducted by Mirror last month indicated that 64% of respondents favor a ban on social media for individuals under 16 years old, while only 19% oppose the proposal.
Mr. Wrack emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to safeguard children from the negative effects of social media, stressing the importance of parental and educational support for such measures.
In response, Daniel Kebede, the General Secretary of the National Education Union, echoed support for NASUWT’s stance, highlighting the detrimental effects of social media on childhood experiences and advocating for government action to address the escalating crisis.
A Government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to supporting school leaders in managing disruptions caused by social media, noting the existing restrictions on phone usage during school hours. Through the Online Safety Act, measures have been taken to ensure age-appropriate online experiences for children, compelling social media companies to shield individuals under 18 from harmful content while promoting a safe digital environment.