'To ban or not to ban' social media in South Africa for under 16's. Parents and children weigh in on the debate.
Image: Saeed Khan / AFP
THE heated debate on whether social media should be banned for children under 16, features insights from parents and teenagers on the potential benefits and risks.
Aneshree Moodley said: “I do not support banning social media for children under 16. Social media is part of modern communication, and kids need to learn how to use it responsibly rather than be completely restricted from it.
“If parents’ guide and monitor their children’s online activity, social media can actually be educational and help them stay connected with friends and school communities. Banning it completely might just make children want to use it secretly without supervision.”
Nikhil Sewpersad said: “I strongly support the ban for children under 16 because many platforms expose kids to harmful content, cyberbullying, and unrealistic standards that can damage their mental health. Children at that age are still developing emotionally and may not fully understand the risks of sharing personal information online. A ban would help protect them and allow them to focus more on school, hobbies and real-life friendships.”
Dinesh Reddy said: “I agree with banning social media for kids under 16. Many children become addicted to their phones and spend too much time online instead of interacting with family or being active. Social media can also affect their confidence because they compare themselves to others online. Waiting until they are older and more mature will help them make better decisions about what they post and how they interact online.”
Children:
Malika Singh, 13, said: “I think banning social media for kids our age could actually help us focus more on school. Sometimes I spend too much time scrolling instead of doing homework. If it was not there, maybe we would go outside more or talk to friends in real life.”
Ayesha Ayoob, 15, said: “I do not think it is fair to ban social media for everyone. Some of us use it to stay in touch with friends and family, especially if they live far away. Instead of banning it, they should just teach us how to use it responsibly.”
Sipho Dlamini, 15, said: “I think there should be limits but not a full ban. Social media can be fun and useful, but it can also be addictive. Maybe there should be time limits or age rules instead of removing it completely.”
Liam Govender, 16, said: “I disagree with banning social media because teenagers are old enough to decide how they use it. It is also where we get news, learn new things, and express ourselves. Taking it away feels like adults don’t trust us.”
Chloe Pillay, 14, said: “I support the ban because social media can be really toxic sometimes. People bully each other online and compare themselves too much. I think having less social media would make people feel less pressure.”
Ethan Devraj, 15, said: “I think banning social media would make things worse because teenagers would just find other ways to use it secretly. It would be better if parents and schools helped us understand the risks instead of banning it completely.”