A striking 82% of people in the West Midlands support banning social media access for under-16s, according to exclusive polling conducted for Birmingham Live. This aligns with growing concerns about the impact of excessive screen time and social media use on young teenagers.
Australia has already implemented a groundbreaking ban preventing children under 16 from using major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Snapchat, and Instagram. The West Midlands’ strong backing reflects fears around harmful online content and addictive algorithms, which critics say contribute to issues such as radicalisation, self-harm, and even suicide among youth.
In the UK, the House of Lords recently voted in favour of a full social media ban for under-16s. The amendment, proposed by Conservative peer Lord Nash as part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, received decisive support. Nationwide polling shows that 80% of adults across the UK would welcome such a ban.
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Locally, 68% of West Midlands residents expressed worry about the online content their children encounter, with only 5% stating they have no concerns. The predominant fear is exposure to inappropriate or harmful content during screen time.
The poll also uncovered that children in the West Midlands tend to start using phones slightly later than the national average. On average, children receive their first phone at 11 years, 2 months, and 19 days—approximately eight months older than the UK average of 10 years, 6 months, and 26 days.
Australia’s pioneering ban, which took effect in December, restricts under-16s from accessing content on ten prominent social media platforms, setting a precedent that many in the UK now want to follow.