While welcoming action to protect young people from social media, Tender is calling on the government to ensure young people, parents and teachers are fully educated on online dangers.

Expert relationships education charity Tender is calling for: 

• Specialist education that supports young people, teachers, parents and carers to understand online dangers, and develop the critical thinking skills to navigate harmful content.   

• Legislate to require platforms to adopt a Safety by Design approach. 

• Legislate to hold platforms accountable for promoting, enabling and increasing violence against women and girls (VAWG). 

Tender argues that an overall ban cannot be the only solution to protect young people online. It must be accompanied by high quality relationships education that prepares and protects young people both online and in the real world. Parents, carers and teachers must also be equipped with the tools to support young people through these issues whenever they do access social media. 

The charity also emphasises the need to legislate against social media features that enable and promote violence against women and girls and calls on the government to hold platforms accountable for the role they play in violence and abuse. The goal should be to create safer and healthier digital environments for young people, not simply to try to restrict their access to online spaces – especially when it is not clear how effectively a ban can be enforced.  

Tender’s own response to the Government’s Growing Up Online Consultation was informed by a survey and focus group of young people aged 16-18, alongside leading sector research.  

Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender, said:

‘Social media has become a dangerous and addictive phenomenon dominating our young people’s lives, putting both young men and women at risk. 

‘While a ban does acknowledge the magnitude of this problem, it must be alongside educating young people about the online world. A ban is no use without understanding: teachers, parents and young people need to recognise the potential risks of the online world, and build the critical thinking skills to navigate it safely.  

‘Social media platforms must be held accountable: we’ve seen features of these platforms become powerful weapons, endangering women and girls of all ages. We need equally powerful legislation to counter this this threat, and drive cultural change that protects children, young people and women too. 

‘We are pleased to see action – but a ban must be the first of many steps to ensure young people of all ages are protected from harmful content and have the skills to keep themselves safe online.’ 

Tender consultation

Following a survey and focus group of young people aged 16-18, alongside leading sector research, Tender found that more young people support age-restricting specific high-risk features such as location sharing, live streaming with strangers, nude image sharing and disappearing messages, rather than an overall minimum age. The addictive nature of social media was seen as a harm in its own right.

The focus group also backed Tender’s call for specialist RSE with trained facilitators who can create confidential spaces for disclosure. They raised the need for parents and teachers to be better equipped to understand online harms.

Media enquiries 

Tender CEO Susie McDonald MBE is available for interview.  

For interview requests and further media enquiries, please contact katevine@tender.org.uk and isadora@tender.org.uk.   

Visit Tender’s Media centre.