Across Farnham, I hear how families are grappling with a challenge that wasn’t on the radar a decade ago: the impact of smartphones and social media on our children’s mental health. I believe it is time we face this issue head-on with evidence-based, compassionate policy.

That is why I support a social media ban for under-16s in the UK and champion the principles of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign.

Teenagers today are growing up in an environment saturated with smartphones and social platforms designed to capture attention, often at the expense of wellbeing. Research increasingly links heavy social media use with rising levels of anxiety, depression and poor body image, especially among younger teens.

In Farnham’s secondary schools, I have heard from parents who feel powerless as their children navigate constant online pressures. I am a dad and my views are not isolated.

It feels like our kids are expected to grow up in a world built around screens and likes. They are missing out on real connection, and it shows.

Many families tell me they spot changes in confidence and sleep patterns once smartphones and social media take hold — and that is before the influence of harmful content or cyberbullying.

The UK has been a leader in child protection in many spheres, from education standards to online safety. Yet our laws have not kept pace with the realities young people face daily. A social media ban for under-16s would:

  • Give children room to grow: Younger teens need time to develop emotionally and socially without the added pressure of public online profiles.
  • Reduce exposure to harmful content: Algorithms often prioritise engagement over wellbeing, exposing children to material they are not equipped to process.
  • Support families and schools: Parents and educators are not digital inspectors — a ban creates a more level playing field for guidance and healthy development.

This is not about rejecting technology; it is about shaping a healthy environment where young people can flourish. Older teens should still learn digital skills, but with stronger safeguards and age-appropriate frameworks in place.

I proudly stand with the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, a movement calling for policy changes that protect young minds. Its evidence and advocacy reflect what many of us see locally: children are better equipped to thrive when they are not tethered to screens designed to keep them hooked.

I am pro Smartphone Free Childhood and fully support the social media ban for under-16s because our children deserve the chance to grow up with confidence, curiosity and wellbeing — not algorithms and endless scrolling. My family are from Australia and I can see the difference that banning social media is having there.

Let us give our young people the childhood they deserve.

Ben Bristow is a Liberal Democrat unitary candidate for Farnham South.