TARGETED BAN URGED OVER BLANKET SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCK

The NSPCC, Molly Rose Foundation, and Smartphone Free Childhood have outlined an alternative to a full social media prohibition for minors. They propose blocking teenagers from platforms that fail to meet strict safety standards, particularly those offering harmful features like infinite scrolling. The campaigners warn against blanket restrictions, suggesting a more targeted approach would be more effective. Their position contrasts with Australia's recent legislation banning social media access for under-16s across the board. The groups argue that tech platforms should be required to remove risky design features that encourage excessive use and pose potential harms to teenagers' mental health and wellbeing. Rather than eliminating social media entirely, the proposal focuses on ensuring platforms meeting safety criteria remain accessible while unsafe ones face restrictions. This recommendation comes as governments worldwide grapple with regulating social media's impact on young people, seeking to balance protection with access to digital platforms.