Youth organisation Woodcraft Folk voted to prioritise digital well-being of all ages ahead of the Government’s announced plans for an under-16 social media ban; urging that restrictions should apply to adults as well as young people and that young people’s views should be central to decisions made.
Young people in Woodcraft Folk are demanding that the Government reconsider its policy for an age-only set of restrictions for social media in light of announcements for an under-16 ban. They also raise serious concerns about outright restrictions on some platforms such as YouTube which are used for instructional guides as much as social media.
Following Woodcraft Folk’s Annual Conference, the organisation has adopted a Digital Well-being resolution, unanimously calling on the Government to urgently review and instigate social media restrictions for all ages, rather than solely focusing on its detriment to those aged 16 years and under.
The motion, passed unanimously by members, argues that while concerns about digital well-being are real and action is needed, “approaches which rely on arbitrary age cut offs” fail to address the wider problems of harmful content, misinformation, radicalisation and addictive platform design that impact users of all ages.
Woodcraft Folk consulted a diverse range of their young members regarding social media use and safety months before the Government’s proposed ban.
The young participants were supported to discuss topics such as the implications of social media, the proposition of a social media ban for under-16s and what alternative methods could be used to address social media concerns. While many called for stronger protections online, there was no consensus in favour of a blanket ban. Participants instead, called for improved moderation, stronger content controls and greater accountability by the social media companies.
Suzannah Walker, the coordinator of Woodcraft Folk’s Venturer Committee (for members aged 13-15 years) says:
“The discussions within Venturer Committee showed that social media can be both harmful and beneficial to children, young people and adults. While many support stronger protections online, they were clear that the conversation cannot stop at age based bans.
“All ages need support and guidance to use social media safely in a manner that protects their own and others’ well-being. Young people want action on harmful content, misinformation, addictive platform design and the responsibilities of technology companies. Above all, they want their voices to be heard.”
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, General Secretary and CEO of Woodcraft Folk says:
“Children and young people are telling us that social media affects their safety, confidence and well-being and we should listen to them. As a youth movement rooted in cooperation and social justice, we will champion them to secure action on the changes they want to see.
“Young people should be at the heart of feeding into any new policies that directly affect them with the Government working with young people, making their voices feel heard and not making decisions on their behalf without consultation.
“An aged-based ban is not enough on its own, we need a risk-based system that places responsibility where it belongs, on technology companies and regulators, while ensuring young people have access to safe, well moderated digital spaces. Nothing about young people should be decided without young people.”
Eddie Moriarty, Chair of Woodcraft Folk, says:
“The Government is right to be concerned about online harms, but it is wrong to pretend that these harms are confined to children.
“Adults are also affected by disinformation, online extremism, addictive algorithms and harmful content.
“Solutions and responsibilities together with stricter, more appropriate regulations must lie with the tech companies behind these social media platforms rather than focus on restricting age limits alone.”
In light of the ban announcement, Woodcraft Folk will be positioning itself as a leading campaign voice for young people on children’s digital rights and will be calling on Government, regulators, educators and technology companies to work directly with young people in designing future social media regulation and digital well-being policies to create safer online environments for young people.
The organisation will continue to provide digital well-being education for its members and offer spaces through its groups, camps and centres where young people can build friendships, confidence and community away from the pressures of social media.