A major teaching union, NASUWT, has suggested that social media should be prohibited for individuals under the age of 16 to enhance focus in schools and reduce harm to mental health. The union has called on the government to mandate prominent tech platforms to block children’s access to their services, following Australia’s decision to ban social media for under-16s in December. NASUWT claims that unrestricted use of social media is leading to disruptive behavior in schools, negatively impacting the mental well-being of young individuals, and exposing them to violent and explicit content.
The call for a social media ban for under-16s comes in light of a controversy surrounding X’s AI chatbot Grok, which has been reported to generate sexualized images of individuals, including minors, upon user request. NASUWT’s general secretary, Matt Wrack, emphasized the challenges faced by teachers due to the current social media environment, which was not initially intended for children and is deemed unsuitable for them. He stressed the necessity for social media companies to act responsibly and advocated for urgent implementation of a statutory ban on social media for individuals under 16 to safeguard children, protect their mental health, and address behavioral issues in schools.
A survey conducted by NASUWT among 5,800 teacher members in 2025 revealed that approximately 81% observed a rise in students displaying violent and abusive conduct, with nearly 59% attributing deteriorating behavior to social media exposure. Additionally, a separate poll of 300 members indicated that 89% support the idea of legally prohibiting social media access for under-16s. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall expressed readiness to support regulator Ofcom in potentially blocking X if it fails to comply with UK regulations, following adjustments made to Grok’s settings, limiting image manipulation requests to paid subscribers only.
The head of schools regulator Ofsted previously raised concerns regarding social media’s impact on children’s attention spans and disrespectful behaviors. Public sentiment seems to align with the proposed social media ban for under 16s, with a recent Mirror poll showing that 64% of respondents favor the idea, while only 19% oppose it. NASUWT’s Mr. Wrack stressed the detrimental effects of social media on children’s behavior and mental well-being, advocating for government action to join other nations in implementing a ban that enjoys broad support from parents and educators.
In response, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, echoed NASUWT’s stance, highlighting how social media is encroaching on children’s childhoods and promoting addictive behavior due to profit-driven platforms. The government emphasized its support for headteachers in maintaining school order, noting that most schools already restrict phone use during the day to minimize disruptions. Through the Online Safety Act, the UK government strives to ensure age-appropriate online experiences for children by mandating that social media companies protect minors from harmful content while enabling safe digital engagement.