Daughter of Rangers legend backs social media ban for kids

Daughter of Rangers legend supports social media ban for children

The daughter of Rangers legend Iain Ferguson, Kelsey Ferguson, has voiced her support for calls to implement a ban on social media for children in Scotland, following a recent move by Australia to ban social media for those under 16. Kelsey, who faced online bullying during her youth, believes that such a ban could be beneficial for children under 16, especially in light of the growing issue of youth violence. She stressed the importance of tech giants taking more responsibility to protect young people from harm online, particularly in the wake of disturbing incidents of attacks on teenagers being filmed and shared for social media popularity.

Australia recently became the first country to announce a ban on social media apps for children under 16, with penalties of up to £25.7m for tech companies failing to comply. The country has introduced “safe” smartphones for children, allowing internet access without social media apps. Kelsey shared her own experience of online bullying, highlighting the escalation of online violence in today’s digital landscape. She called for a balance between providing children with phones for safety while shielding them from online dangers.

The Our Kids … Our Future campaign by the Daily Record has been a driving force behind these discussions, advocating for the removal of violent content involving children from social media platforms. The initiative was launched following numerous distressing incidents where children were filmed being attacked and the videos circulated online for status and validation.

Parents of affected children have also expressed their support for such a ban, citing the irreversible impact of online violence on their children’s mental health. They believe that restricting social media access for under 16s could mitigate the trend of sharing violent content for online validation. Education, both in schools and at home, is seen as crucial in creating awareness about online dangers and empowering parents to safeguard their children.

While there are currently no plans to implement a social media ban for children in Scotland, discussions around online safety and age-appropriate content are ongoing. The introduction of the Online Safety Act aims to protect children online and hold tech companies accountable for harmful content. The need for a balanced approach that ensures children benefit from technology while being shielded from its harms remains a key focus for policymakers.

In summary, the call for a social media ban for children under 16 in Scotland is gaining momentum, fuelled by the need to protect young people from online harm and violence. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the debate around regulating social media access for minors will be crucial in safeguarding the well-being of the next generation.