Growing up online: if we want safer social platforms, we need to listen to young people

By Jonny Bunt, Corporate Affairs Director, BT’s Consumer Division

If you have a young person in your life, the question of how to keep them safe online is likely never far from your mind. Technology and the internet can be a powerful force for good, but there are real risks, too.

At EE, we believe that making the most of connectivity means being informed about both the benefits and challenges of being online. We’ve made it our mission to support families navigating the digital world safely, through guidance designed to help them create healthy habits and set boundaries that work for their needs.

Young voices weigh in on a social media ban

“I’d introduce new restrictions for really young kids, who are just being introduced to technology”; the words of Michael, a Year 11 student reacting to the proposals for an U16 social media ban currently moving through the halls of Westminster. His words, calling on platforms to “stop the cycle”, are a timely reminder that, if we want to make the online world safer for young people, we must start by listening to their views. At the same time he highlights importance addressing these challenges before young people build habits dependent on social media.

Our response to the Government’s Growing up in the online world consultation

Ahead of submitting our response to the Government’s consultation, we assembled our EE Youth Council for a candid discussion. We talked about the realities of growing up online, and the legislative changes that could help young people have safer experiences on social media.

At EE we have long-standing commitment to helping families take control of their online safety. In 2024, we were the first telecom provider to introduce age-based smartphone guidance and, in 2025, the first major network to introduce dedicated smartphone plans for under-18s, Safer SIMs.

Alongside our plans, we introduced in-store online safety appointments with our expert EE Guides, offering personalised support on everything from setting up a child’s first phone, to adapting parental controls as they grow up. To further encourage conversations around responsible smartphone ownership, we launched The P.H.O.N.E. Chat, a comprehensive guide designed with insights from experts at Internet Matters, children and their parents.

Growing up with social media: the benefits, risks and young people’s vision for change

“Parents think social media is just sitting there watching videos, and that’s it,” said Belicia, Year 11, but for the six young people joining the roundtable, aged 11 to 17, social media is not seen in black and white terms.

They see technology as a force for good, helping them connect with family and friends, enhance their learning and discover new interests.

At the same time, they acknowledge the harms they navigate daily, from chasing validation through likes or comments, to auto-play features exposing them to upsetting content, to never really knowing who they are interacting with online.

We agreed that responsibility for safer online spaces cannot rest solely on young people and their families or teachers. Platforms must be held accountable for the design choices that have led young people to encounter harms in the first place and protect future generations from facing the same challenges.

The Youth Council was unanimous in believing a social media ban should be a last resort. Instead, they advocated for age-based restrictions that gradually ease as young people learn to handle the responsibility of digital independence.

Some great suggestions included young users being asked to provide their parents’ contact information for consent when creating social media accounts, or barring children from higher-risk features, like connecting with strangers or being added to mass group chats. 

Creating age-appropriate experiences is a key priority for EE, and the main ambition behind our tiered Safer SIMs plans and smartphone guidance for under-16s.

The roundtable reinforced our belief that online safety shouldn’t be just about restricting access, but about helping to prepare young people for the moment when they are old enough to explore the internet freely, without their parents’ supervision.

In a show of disarming maturity, the Youth Council reflected on Australia’s social media ban and recent reports suggesting three in five young people have found ways to work around those restrictions¹. Rather than accept defeat, the Council argued there would still be meaningful benefits for the two in five who do not.

One of the most thought-provoking moments in our discussion came when the Youth Council was asked what they would do if they were shaping the UK’s online safety policy. Their answers were selfless, focusing on how to spare future generations from the potential harms of social media:    

1. Break the cycle: learn from teens’ experiences today and develop safety policy with future generations in mind
2. Limit exposure to social media: set a 10pm curfew across all platforms to encourage better sleep and wellbeing
3. Introduce a social media license: require users to demonstrate responsible online behaviour before being permitted access to social media platforms
4. Bring parents on board: better equip parents to understand online risks and set boundaries tailored to their child’s needs

Young people understand better than anyone how social media shapes their friendships, wellbeing, confidence and identity. Nearly half (45%) of secondary school-age children turn to their friends with questions about online safety², highlighting how much young people rely on each other to navigate risks. Their experiences should not sit on the sidelines of policymaking; they should help to guide it. This is our core tenet at EE.

The Youth Council spoke thoughtfully about wanting future generations to experience a safer online world, with clearer boundaries and healthier expectations from the outset. At EE, we remain committed to doing our part in developing the solutions to make this future possible.