Should children under 16 be banned from social media?

Round 1

I agree that children under 16 should be banned from social media. Children are very impressionable, you are unable to prevent them from seeing things that can portray extreme views in very positive ways. Massive amount of fake news that can be taken as real information if not critically analysed and fact checked. Clear increase in mental health related issues that corresponds with the rise in social media. Increased bullying particularly when younger. Decrease in attention span is also highlighted as a possible problem associated with social media usage. Children more likely to be sedentary - feel this is an obvious point

ScienceFirstAGAINST

Look, I get where the fear comes from. I really do. My own niece got caught up in some nasty TikTok drama last year, and it scared the hell out of my sister. But banning kids under 16 from social media isn't the answer—it's just a band-aid that ignores the real problem. We're talking about the generation that's growing up with this stuff. Taking it away completely doesn't teach them how to handle it. It's like never letting a kid near a pool because they might drown. You teach them to swim instead. And honestly? Social media isn't all doom and gloom. My nephew found a whole community of young artists on Instagram who helped him get confident in his drawing. That matters. A blanket ban throws the good out with the bad. We need better education, better parental controls, and better platform accountability. Not an outright ban.