16/06/2026
I am genuinely very pleased to see the UK government taking steps to restrict social media access for under-16s.
This is long overdue. Fully support this!!!
The statistics around social media use and mental health are alarming. Teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social platforms are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. At the same time, the average age of first smartphone use continues to fall, meaning children are being exposed during critical stages of brain development.
We are living in a state of constant digital overstimulation. Endless scrolling, short-form content, and algorithm-driven feeds are conditioning us to seek quick dopamine hits rather than develop focus, patience, or critical thinking.
If fully developed adults struggle with this, it raises an important question. What is this doing to children whose brains are still developing?
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking, impulse control, and decision-making, is not fully developed until the mid-20s. Yet children are expected to navigate highly addictive digital environments designed to keep them engaged for as long as possible.
This is not harmless entertainment. It is shaping behaviour, attention span, self-worth, and mental health.
We are already seeing the effects:
1. Reduced attention spans and difficulty focusing
2. Increased anxiety and comparison-driven thinking
3. Dependence on external validation
4. Exposure to unrealistic and often harmful content
We cannot expect to raise healthy, focused, and emotionally stable young people in an environment where they are constantly chasing stimulation.
Speaking from personal experience, I stepped away from social media completely after my bodybuilding competition in 2019 and only returned in August 2023 for business purposes.
That period of disconnection gave me clarity, focus, and a completely different perspective on how much these platforms influence behaviour and mindset. The difference was significant.
This is why I strongly support this decision.
This is not about restriction for the sake of control. It is about responsibility. It is about protecting development, attention, and mental wellbeing.
I am surprised by how many adults are opposing this. In many cases, it reflects how normalised digital dependency has become, rather than what is actually healthy.
If implemented properly, this could be a very important step towards creating a healthier relationship with technology for the next generation.
