Should Under-16s Be Banned From Social Media? | What Parents & Schools Need to Know

Should under-16s be banned from social media?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy and Rena discuss the proposed under-16 social media ban and what it could mean for young people, parents, schools, and safeguarding.The conversation explores whether a ban can realistically be enforced, how children may try to find loopholes, and what happens when social media — one of the main ways many young people socialise, build identity, and stay connected — is suddenly removed.Ziggy and Rena also unpack the deeper question: if social media is taken away, what replaces it?From family routines and after-school activities to school buildings, community partnerships, youth provision, pastoral support, online bullying, phone use, and the pressure placed on schools to solve wider societal problems, this episode asks what adults need to do before the ban arrives.This is not just a conversation about apps.It is a conversation about safeguarding, parenting, community, identity, attention, and the future of childhood in a digital-first world.💬 “You cannot remove something without replacing it.”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.In partnership with Step Up Network.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back to the SLT Podcast1:57 - New partnership announcement: Step Up Network4:23 - Today’s topic: the under-16 social media ban5:14 - What apps could be affected?6:10 - Questions around enforcement and loopholes7:23 - Is the ban too late?8:26 - Can a social media ban actually work?9:28 - Social media addiction and family life10:33 - You cannot remove something without replacing it12:36 - What will children do without social media?13:47 - The opportunity for parents and schools14:41 - Project-based learning and rethinking homework16:14 - How could this affect schools pastorally?17:33 - After-school provision, clubs, and community use of schools20:16 - What should headteachers and MAT leaders consider?22:30 - How will children feel about the ban?23:27 - Social media, identity, and daily routines25:48 - What young people may lose socially27:55 - Adolescence, Netflix, and social media conversations28:36 - Attention spans, scrolling, and adverts29:24 - Treating social media loss as a real adjustment31:15 - Phones, parents, and school rules33:10 - Final thoughts on spring 202734:10 - Why SLT Podcast avoids rage-bait controversy37:26 - Like, share, subscribe, and final reflections⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today.#SLTPodcast #SocialMediaBan #OnlineSafety #Safeguarding #EducationPodcast #Parenting #SchoolLeadership #DigitalSafety #Under16SocialMediaBan #SeriousLeadersTalking