Is banning social media the way forward?

Earlier this year the Government announced a social media ban for kids. Many people have been campaigning for this for years…and, of course, many people are opposed to such a ban or can’t see how it can be implemented.

At Suffolk Mind we encourage people to have a healthy relationship with their Attention Harvesting Devices – not just when it comes to social media, but in all respects.

If we think of our attention as currency, it can help us be a little more aware of how we spend it. Should we sit in the lounge, with the telly on and our Attention Harvesting Device in our hand, doom scrolling reels until we fall asleep with our finger bent toward the screen?

Perhaps we should spend more of our attention on the people around us. Could we sit round the table to eat a meal, go to a group event at the local library, or pick up the Attention Harvesting Device and phone someone for a chat (remember when we used to do that?).

There’s a whole other debate, of course, about whether governments should get involved in banning things.

I tend to think these newsworthy occasions present an opportunity to have conversations. Whether it’s with our kids, people at work or friends down the pub.

“Hello darling, how was your day?” (this is obviously not a workplace chat, just to be clear).

“Ugh…ok I s’pose.”

“Good, have you seen this news about banning social media?”

“What news, bruh?”

“Well, the government is going to ban social media, like Facebook and TikTok, for all people under a certain age. What do you think about that?”

“Dunno. Can I go upstairs now?”

Well, it’s worth a try. Might have to have a couple of attempts.

I’m not a perfect parent by any stretch of the imagination, but I have found that talking to my kids about what they think the boundaries should be, can often lead to a lesson better learned than simply me meeting my own need for control. (Sidenote to anyone that has kids of a certain age, a good rule of thumb to live by: #WhatWouldBanditDo?)

I also try to do the same in the workplace. When faced with a challenge, an opportunity, or something else that’s suddenly become more urgent than it was a few minutes ago, I try to let the rest of the team take the lead, if possible.

Nobody wants to be told what to do all the time. We all need control and autonomy, feeling like we’re making choices.

It makes me much prouder if my teenager at home decides for herself not to use social media, or to leave her Attention Harvesting Device outside her room when she goes to bed. How great that she’s making good choices, rather than me forcing my will on her all the time.

And how great is it when people at work just do a good job? They don’t need me telling them what to do.

It all starts with a conversation, however. And, perhaps, a government decision about banning social media is a good place to begin one.