The Government has launched a consultation on a proposed social media ban for under 16s.

We’ve created the guide below to help parents and carers respond. You can access the government’s official consultation here: https://survey.savanta.com/?id=a957374a58Sa03ba4b9&lng=en-G

Please note: This blog post only gives guidance on questions related to privacy and civil liberties. We recommend you use a computer to complete this survey and beware that you cannot go back to edit your answers once you click ‘next’.

Step 1: Start the consultation by clicking ‘start survey’

Step 2 – Begin answering survey questions by pressing ‘next’

Q1. Are you a parent or carer of any children under 21?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q2. How old are you? What is your gender?

Enter your age in the text box provided. Choose your gender from the listed options.

Q3. Where do you live?

Choose the answer that applies to you.

Q4. What is your ethnic group?

Choose the answer that applies to you.

Q5. Please indicate which one of the following best describes the profession of the chief income earner in your household.

Choose the answer that applies to you.

Q6. How many children are you a parent or carer of?

Enter the number of children under your care in the text box provided. You can type the number out if you cannot or do not want to use the slider.

Q7. How old are those child(ren)?

Enter the ages of each of your children in the text boxes provided. NOTE: You must enter the ages in descending order.

See a sample response below:

Q8. What is the gender of your child?

Answer this question as you see fit.

Q9. Does your child have additional needs or disabilities

Choose the option that fits your situation.

Q10. Does your child have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

Choose the option that fits your situation.

Q11. Which of the following best describes where you live?

Choose the answer that applies to you.

Q12. If today is Saturday, what day will it be tomorrow? Please type in what day it will be

Enter ‘Sunday’ in the text box.

You’ll now see the following two screens stating that the next couple of questions will be about you/your child’s social media use. Press ‘next’ to continue with the survey.

Note: We’ve noticed that some users may see different screens/questions based on the ages of their children. If you do not see some of the questions listed below it is because your child’s age is different from that of our sample response.

Q13. Does the child aged 15 or under for whom you are responsible for have access to any of the following devices?

Choose an option that applies to you.

Q14. On a typical day, how much time do you think your child spends on social media?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q15. Thinking about your child’s use of social media, which of these activities do you think your child does less of because of screen time?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q16. Have you set any rules, agreements, or boundaries about your child’s use of social media?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q17. How confident do you feel in helping your child stay safe on social media?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q18. Do you ever feel out of control about the amount of time that you personally spend online?

Choose the option that applies to you.

Q19. In your opinion, what are the benefits of children being on social media?

Copy paste the response into the text box provided. Feel free to personalise this to reflect your own views and experiences.

Our response

Social media can be a valuable route for children to exercise their right to freedom of expression, to receive and impart information on an international platform, and to digitally socialise. Children receive the majority of their news via social media, making it a critical means for civic engagement, just as it is for adults. Further, social media gives children access to resources and opportunities that many cannot access offline. This is especially true for marginalised, isolated, economically disadvantaged, or disabled children.

Social media platforms allow children to explore interests, skills, hobbies, and languages beyond what school offers, connecting them with like-minded peers. For children whose disabilities prevent them from socialising offline, or for those who are the victims of bullying, social media can offer an important source of community. Children suffering from abuse, or other issues they feel too scared to speak about openly can use social media to get in touch with relevant communities, children’s charities and helplines anonymously for advice and understanding.

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