Commenting on the submission, ASCL policy specialist Margaret Mulholland said: “School leaders see first-hand the harm that social media platforms can cause to children’s wellbeing, and it is long overdue that technology platforms and products are regulated for safety in the way that other sectors already are.

“In a world where technology companies are properly held to account, ASCL would support an approach in which children and young people and their families have access to education which supports safe use of social media. In the absence of effective government regulation, it may well be necessary to introduce some form of a social media ban. However, creating a cliff edge at 16, where young people suddenly have access to the wild west of unregulated social media, comes with its own risks.” 

ASCL’s full consultation response is available here.