Banning young people's access to social media won't challenge big tech’s dangerous business model
Mad Youth Organise statement on the UK government’s announcement of a social media ban
Mad Youth Organise is deeply concerned by the UK government's announcement that it will ban social media access for under 16’s. This policy is a failure of imagination and an abdication of responsibility. We reject any “solution” to online harm that restricts the rights of young people without addressing the root cause of the impact on our mental health: Big Tech's profit-driven design.
We are the first generation to grow up online. We know first hand the power of social media for connection, learning and solidarity - and we also know how Big Tech has weaponised that potential. As young people we have experienced acute mental health crises fuelled by algorithms pushing pro-self-harm and pro-anorexia content when we were most vulnerable. These experiences pushed many of us into crisis.
Yet a blanket ban does nothing to fix the root cause of harm. It allows platforms, their addictive features and exploitative designs to continue unchanged while placing the burden on young people like us who are the most affected.
By locking young people out of social media the government ignores the reality that online spaces can be vital for support and community - particularly for marginalised communities such as LGBTQ+ and disabled young people. Removing access will only isolate us further, especially following decades of cuts to youth services.
A ban will also drive young people to darker and unregulated corners of the internet. It will also accelerate further restrictions on the privacy and human rights of us all. Meanwhile, the profit-driven harm social media firms cause will continue to damage the lives of young people over the age of 16.
The government is making a mistake in treating social media as a harmful substance to be avoided, rather than a tool to be redesigned. These platforms should be built by us, for us - as spaces for connection, learning and joy. But instead, they have been designed to maximise profit at the expense of young people's wellbeing. Meta made $62 billion in profit last year by deliberately designing addictive products. A ban lets these companies off the hook and bars young people from being involved in decisions about our own digital futures.
If the government is really serious about protecting young people from harm, then instead of bans and exclusion they would pursue policies that actually wrest power and control away from Big Tech companies:
Tax big tech to make them pay for the harm they’re causing. We’re calling for a 4% “misery tax” on UK revenues of big tech corporations, which would generate funds ring fenced for funding urgently needed mental health care.
Take action to break up monopolies. For example, forcing companies to enable users to move friends and messages between platforms (this is called data portability).
End addictive design. Legislate to end infinite scrolling and allow people to see and edit their algorithms - or even turn it off completely.
Support alternatives. We need public subsidies for not-for-profit social media sites which can counter big tech’s power and control.
Protecting young people will not be achieved through blanket exclusions or small reforms to existing platforms while they remain owned by Big Tech. The solution is to wrest control from Big Tech, demand accountability and centre young people in shaping safe, empowering and meaningful digital spaces.
We welcome government recognition of the harms that Big Tech are causing. But we need action that actually holds corporations accountable, instead of excluding young people from the digital world. We will continue amplifying the voices of young people and demanding that we are put at the heart of shaping real solutions.