Scotland’s children’s commissioner Nicola Killean has said there is currently insufficient evidence to support a ban on social media use for under-16s as a way to improve children’s online safety.
She warned that such a ban could push young people towards less regulated or more dangerous areas of the internet and argued that stronger accountability for social media companies is a more effective solution.
Killean was responding to the UK government’s consultation on possible age restrictions for social media platforms, including wider measures on features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.
She noted that while social media can expose children to risks such as harmful content, cyberbullying, exploitation, and contact from strangers, it can also provide important benefits including communication, learning, and community support.
The commissioner emphasised that policies should focus on platform design, stronger regulation, and involving young people in shaping rules that affect their online lives.
