Social media ban will help young people become ‘good active citizens’ says Khan

But the move on its own “won’t be enough” and needs to be part of a range of measures to help youngsters gain skills, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre in Enfield (credit GLA)

The incoming social media ban is one of many tools that ministers and City Hall can use to reduce youth violence in London, Sir Sadiq Khan has said.

Thousands of young Londoners under the age of 16 will be forced off social media next year after the government’s announcement it would ban children from using apps including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

The London mayor, who has long advocated for the ban, has now said the move “won’t be enough by itself” but was part of a range of measures that can ensure young people become “good active citizens” in future.

“In addition to the social media ban, we’ve got to be teaching young people how to critically think for themselves, how to test the veracity of what’s on social media, how to challenge what’s on it, but also just to explain to young people and others the consequences of their actions,” Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“That sense of empathy, being a good citizen, is incredibly important.

“I think young people have access to smartphones at a far too early age and they’re bombarded with all sorts of images. The algorithms work against positivity and so it’s a combination of, yes, making sure young people are not exploited on social media, but also giving them other skills so they can be good active citizens.”

The mayor was speaking to the LDRS during a visit to Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre in Enfield, where he announced a £1.5million funding boost to deliver hundreds of activities – including football sessions – to keep young people safe during the summer holidays.

City Hall’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has paired up with the Premier League and eleven professional London football club charities to create positive opportunities during a period when the mayor says young Londoners are “particularly vulnerable to exploitation and crime”.

“I want London to be the safest and best place to grow up for a young person anywhere in the world,” he added.

“The evidence shows unfortunately that during the summer holidays, young people are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and crime. So what we’re trying to do is to give young people the same support and opportunities I received growing up.

“On top of the £100m we’ve invested in young people, the 550,000 positive opportunities we provided to young people, the 130,000 young people who have a mentor, we’re investing an additional £1.5 million, working with the Premier League Foundation, working with the eleven football clubs in London to give young people the opportunity to be kept busy and diverted away from exploitation and crime using football, using mentors during the course of this summer, but also other things that young people may want to do — arts, culture, sports, media — giving them employability skills and soft skills that will support them this summer, but hopefully good life skills that means they fulfil their potential.”

VRU director Lib Peck said that during school holidays, vulnerable youngsters do not have the “safety and structure that school provides”.

Alex White, chief executive of the Premier League Foundation, told the LDRS: “We’re working with the VRU to try to help divert young people away from the risks of crime and criminal behaviour by using the power of football and the power of sport, to create positive opportunities, to help improve lives, and to strengthen communities.

“Our intentions are to create safe spaces with trusted adults, positive role models, where young people can relate to individuals, and then have conversations, and open doors, then introduce them to opportunities that are relevant and of interest to them.

“Football is an incredibly powerful tool, and a hook, and the football club badge works very well to get people through the door – but we recognise it may not be football for everybody. But having those trusting, safe spaces can create meaningful opportunities to connect, inspire young people, and empower them to take and make positive life choices.”

The mayor also addressed City Hall’s work with the new government in ensuring young Londoners continue to have opportunities after finishing school, saying he has already met with senior ministers on the issue and that last week’s devolution announcement was a massive boost in the fight to reduce the number of Neets – those not in education, employment, or training – in the capital.

Downing Street’s announcement on Friday (31st) suggested that mayors will now get the power to run education in their areas for those 16 and over.

“We’ve got a real opportunity now to really support young people who are not in employment, education, and training,” Sir Sadiq said.

“We know our cities and our communities and our councils and our employers far better than civil servants in Whitehall. Nothing against civil servants in Whitehall, [but] I speak to too many Londoners in Lewisham who feel as disconnected to Whitehall as those in Liverpool and Leeds. I meet people in Newham who feel as disconnected to Whitehall as those in Newcastle and Nottingham. That’s why I welcome the direction of travel from the new government.”

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