Streeting likens social media to tobacco as pressure grows for un
· fitness
The Dark Side of Social Media: Can We Learn from Tobacco’s Past?
The UK government’s consultation on online safety is set to close soon, but the debate over regulating social media has only just begun. Former health secretary Wes Streeting recently likened tech companies to the tobacco industry, sparking a renewed push for a ban on under-16s using social media.
Streeting’s comments carry significant weight, given his experience with Big Tobacco’s devastating impact on public health. His analogy is both apt and unsettling: like the tobacco industry, tech companies prioritize profits over people, and it’s time we treat social media with scrutiny equal to that of a pack of cigarettes.
Streeting’s words are not just an attack on Big Tech; they’re also a call to action for policymakers. As he said, “We’ve got to give our children their childhood back.” The current state of affairs is alarming: doctors report a wave of radicalized children exposed to hateful and addictive content online, which has a direct impact on their mental health.
A report by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges paints a stark picture of harm caused. Of 454 surveyed doctors, half said they treated at least one child per week whose mental distress or physical injury was linked to online content. The statistics are sobering, but it’s the human cost that should concern us most.
Families who have lost loved ones to social media-related harm are speaking out, and their stories are harrowing. Ellen Roome, whose son Jools Sweeney died attempting an online challenge in 2019, is among those meeting with Sir Keir Starmer to demand action. Her words remind us that we’re not just talking about statistics – we’re talking about lives lost.
The government’s promise to impose restrictions on under-16s is welcome, but it’s only the beginning. Lord Nash pointed out that hundreds of thousands of people have made their voices heard, asking the Government to raise the age for access to harmful social media to 16. However, this is not just about setting a specific age limit; it’s about fundamentally changing how tech companies design and operate their services.
The Children’s Coalition for Online Safety has been vocal in its criticism of the government’s approach. In a joint statement, 25 organizations called for a broader overhaul of technology companies’ business models and product design choices that keep young users hooked. They’re right to argue that focusing solely on age limits risks failing to address the structural drivers of online harms.
The tobacco industry was brought down by its own insidious nature, and it’s time we apply the same level of scrutiny to Big Tech. We need to demand that tech companies demonstrate their services are safe for children, rather than relying on parents or children to navigate the risks themselves. The creation of an independent online safety commissioner is a step in the right direction, but it’s just one part of a much broader solution.
As we move forward, policymakers must prioritize the well-being of our children above all else. It’s time for them to get tough with Big Tech and start treating social media like the public health threat it is. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.
Reader Views
- DRDevon R. · former athlete
What's striking about Streeting's analogy is how it ignores the nuances of social media usage in different age groups. For instance, some teenagers use social media as a lifeline during pandemic lockdowns or to cope with bullying. A blanket ban on under-16s would do more harm than good, potentially pushing vulnerable teens further into isolation and online obscurity. Policymakers need to consider the varying effects of social media on young people, rather than simply demonizing tech companies.
- CTCoach Tara M. · strength coach
While Wes Streeting's comparison of social media to tobacco is apt, we need to acknowledge that kids' online behavior can't be controlled with just blanket restrictions on under-16s using social media. What about schools and parents taking responsibility for teaching digital literacy and setting boundaries? Tech companies aren't the sole villains here – our own inaction as a society has created this problem. We should focus on education, awareness, and holding both tech giants and ourselves accountable for the harm caused by unchecked online behavior.
- TGThe Gym Desk · editorial
The UK's online safety consultation is a timely opportunity to reassess the role of social media in our lives. Wes Streeting's tobacco analogy highlights the insidious way tech companies prioritize profits over people, but what about the economic implications of a blanket ban on under-16s? A prohibition would disproportionately affect low-income families who rely on affordable internet access for essential services like healthcare and education. Policymakers must balance the need to protect children with the reality of digital literacy in the modern age.