Lord John Nash: Proposed Amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

John Lord Nash is the founder of Future Academies, a family of schools serving pupils across London and Hertfordshire that was created with the mission of improving young people's life chances and broadening their horizons. This article will look at the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and amendments to it proposed by Lord Nash to safeguard young people from the ever-increasing dangers posed by social media.

Now in the process of passing through the House of Lords, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a government bill created to safeguard the welfare of children. It deals with a variety of different aspects of children’s lives, including breakfast club provisions, school uniforms, school attendance, and the establishment and regulations of agencies. The bill also puts in place measures to support children in care as well as those leaving the care system. It also addresses issues such as teacher misconduct, school places and admissions, and the regulation of independent educational institutions.

The goal of the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill is to enhance the wellbeing of the nine million students enrolled at schools across England and Wales. Lord Nash suggests that nothing could have a wider impact than banning access to social media before the age of 16. An overwhelming body of clinical evidence highlights the dangers of social media for children, with parents, teachers and young people themselves all becoming increasingly aware of the risks. Against this backdrop, Lord John Nash has proposed that social media access should be restricted to those aged 16 years and over.

The dictionary defines wellbeing as a state of comfort, health or happiness. Sadly, the wellbeing of millions of British children is being jeopardized by their exposure to harmful material online. Data from Health Professionals for Safer Screens shows that social media exposure culminates in emotional and social difficulties, as well as developmental problems such as language and communication issues. There is also a correlation between social media interactions and reduced academic attainment and incidences of ADHD in children. In addition to behavioural issues, experts also warn that exposure can also trigger physical issues, such as sleep difficulties, poor eyesight, eating disorders and obesity. Studies suggest that the negative impacts are even more pronounced in autistic children, who are more vulnerable to the impact of screen time.

Research by the Samaritans suggests that young people are frequently exposed to graphic and triggering content pertaining to self-harm and suicide via social media, with three out of four teenage girls agreeing that social media places them under pressure to look a particular way. Meanwhile, data gathered by Teacher Tapp reveals that 56% of teachers would prefer a ban on social media, while in a Mumsnet poll, 83% of parents backed a social media ban for under-16-year-olds.

Across the UK today, millions of families are facing a daily battle with their children due to the addictive nature of smartphones and social media. A recent American Harris poll showed that most parents would prefer for their children to grow up in a world without social media, demonstrating the same level of regret as for guns. Indeed, a Millennium Cohort study of teens revealed that 67% of 16-to-18-year-olds themselves also agreed that smartphones were harmful, with 50% admitting that they were addicted to social media.

Recognising adolescence as a particularly important period of development, Lord John Nash has called for a ban on social media for under-16-year-olds, as these girls and boys are more vulnerable to its negative effects. From cyberbullying and grooming to violent content, knife crime, social comparison and body dysmorphia, social media exposure is taking a significant toll on children’s emotional and physical health and wellbeing. Lord Nash is appealing to policymakers to come to the aid of teachers, parents and the children themselves by putting in place vital safeguards to protect young people’s development, safety and health.