Anas Sarwar urges UK Government to ban social media for under 16s
Graeme Downie has spoken out about his opposition to stopping kids using the platforms on the day that the Scottish Labour leader announced that he is backing the ban.
Anas Sarwar has urged the UK Government to ban social media for under-16s.
The Scottish Labour leader wants his party to follow Australia and France in restricting children’s access to online platforms amid a “mental health emergency”.
Although many Labour politicians party are in favour, Scottish MP Graeme Downie warned that young people should not be “punished”.
The UK Government announced a short consultation on bringing in a UK-wide ban last month. This should last three months
First Minister John Swinney, previously said he supported greater action to protect children online but has stopped short of backing a social media ban.
Mr Sarwar said: “We already know the risks young people face online – whether it’s cyberbullying, addictive habits, or exposure to extreme content and views.
“As a parent I know the status quo isn’t working.
“Social media is interfering with kids’ ability to learn and it is fuelling a growing mental health emergency.
“We cannot stand by young people are being failed by a system that doesn’t protect them.
“Scottish Labour has long called for a ban on mobile phones in schools, so classrooms can become safe places to learn again – but we need to go further.
“We need to stand with parents and give kids the childhood they deserve by delivering a full ban on social media use for under 16s.
“This will help protect young people from harmful and hateful content online and it will free them from their phones so they can enjoy these years.
“I am determined to do right by the next generation, but the truth is they are being failed by a tired and out of touch SNP government.
“A Scottish Labour government led by me will ban phones in classrooms, fight for a ban on social media and work to unlock opportunities for every young person.”
Labour MP for Dunfermline Dollar Mr Downie said he is against banning social media for under 16s.
Mr Downie said he does not back “rushing” into a ban because he is worried about “being seen to punish young people because of something we don't understand”.
Mr Downie said: “I am happy the government is going to look seriously at the harm that social media can cause young people, but I don't believe we should be rushing into bans on social media for young people without exhausting other options first, primarily education.
"We must be very careful that a well-intended act to protect our youngest generations doesn't have the unintended consequence of isolating young people for whom their online connections are their social lives, their way of communicating and their lifeline to the world around them.
"Young people are the experts in their own lives and as digital natives, have far greater understanding about different platforms and their positive and negative effect. We must trust young people and avoid being seen to punish young people because of something we don't understand.”
Mr Sarwar said he backs a ban because of concerns about the toll social media is having on young people’s mental health.
Scottish Labour has already committed to ban mobile phones in classrooms in Scottish schools - something which the Scottish Government has so far refused to do.
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