Overview
- The health secretary said young people’s health, learning and life chances are being harmed by social media, citing doom-scrolling, bullying, body image pressures and grooming.
- Streeting said he supports taking action without pre-judging the outcome of the debate or dismissing arguments about the benefits of online connections.
- He has brought in author Jonathan Haidt to brief officials as part of the government’s evidence-gathering on potential measures.
- Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is reportedly considering restrictions on under-16s, with officials said to want a decision within months.
- The push follows Ofsted warnings and a NASUWT survey of 5,800 teachers reporting worsening behaviour, with 59% citing social media as a factor, as the UK monitors Australia’s new nationwide ban.