Youth services hit by big decline in local authority spending
There have been calls to invest in youth services and spaces for young people, following the government’s announcement of a social media ban for under-16s.
Earlier this week, the prime minister announced that those under 16 will no longer be allowed to access ‘user-to-user’ platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the ban, but functions such as livestreaming oneself, and being able to communicate with strangers, will be banned for under-16s across all platforms. Exact details of when the ban will come into force, and the age verification processes that will be established, are yet to be confirmed. However, the government has indicated that they expect it to be in place by spring 2027.
Announcing the ban on 15 June, Keir Starmer noted that social media could bring some benefits to young people, and therefore the policy would not be ‘cost free’, but argued that ‘a total ban is the right choice’. He added: ‘This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.’
While the ban appears to have broad support among parents (as part of a government consultation, 9 in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for under 16s), there have also been concerns raised that it could leave young people isolated, especially given the decline in the number of youth clubs and other spaces for young people to socialise in-person. Analysis by the YMCA youth charity found that, in England, spending by local authorities on youth services has fallen 74 per cent over the past 14 years. Meanwhile, in Berkshire, according to the charity Berkshire Youth, the county has seen 97 youth spaces close since 2010 and lose more than 300 staff from the sector.
Writing on LinkedIn, Sarah Emery, CEO of Berkshire Youth, said there was ‘no doubt that social media can expose young people to risks that previous generations never had to navigate, and stronger protections are needed’. However, she argued that the debate shouldn’t ‘simply be about restricting access’, but also ‘equipping young people with the skills, confidence and resilience to navigate the online world safely and critically.’ She added: ‘Youth work has a vital role to play here. Trusted relationships, safe spaces and positive role models help young people make sense of the world around them, both online and offline. The question for me is not whether young people should be online. The digital world is here to stay. The question is how we ensure they are supported to use it safely, positively and in ways that enhance, rather than diminish, their wellbeing and future opportunities. Maybe some investment in real world opportunities would help too!’
Meanwhile, Chris Evans, Headteacher of Reading School, a grammar school for boys, said there should be more ‘real life’ activities available to children. Speaking to the BBC, he welcomed the ban, but warned of unintended consequences: ‘If we don’t find ways to support young people they will become more isolated and their alternative companions, perhaps on the dark web could be worse’. He added that a ban was ‘only one part of the process – we now need to think about how we invest in youth services so young people can engage positively with one another’, and suggested young people would come to see the ban as a positive development. ‘I am certain young people need more fulfilling relationships. If we get this right and invest in real life relationships, a generation from now these young people will thank us’ he said.
The announcement of the ban is the government’s first response to the Growing up in the online world consultation, which closed in May this year and received more than 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country. The government’s full response to the consultation will be published in July, setting out further details and decisions on other policy areas.