That was one of the ideas to emerge from a Guernsey Press interview with pupils from all three of Guernsey’s high schools.
There was some support, in principle, for the idea of a ban. But there was also some scepticism that it would prove effective, because they felt young people would just find ways to circumvent it.
St Sampson’s pupil Jane Van Der Watt felt that if a local ban was brought in, Guernsey children would soon adapt to it and benefit.
‘It would be really incredible for younger generations if they had that growing up because it would give them a chance to get their childhood back basically, and experience more connections with friends and family. Looking at my younger cousins, I would love it if they would be more social and have more fun.’
But Bobby-Roy Cole, from Les Varendes, thought talk of a ban was government overreach.
‘People will find their own ways around it, so I think it would be a bit stupid. But anyway people have their own ideas and I think parents should be the ones to put those bans on kids, not the government.’
All of the pupils agreed that the prospect of a social media ban had been a huge talking point in local schools since the UK Prime Minister announced his plan on Monday.
Betty Pearce said many pupils at Les Beaucamps were shocked by the idea.
‘There has been a lot of talk about it and I think nearly everybody would be completely devastated if they brought in a complete ban, but maybe that just shows that they are too addicted to it and it needs to be banned.’
Some felt a compromise might be for any ban to only impact younger children, rather than being in place all the way up to 16, suggesting that the dangers posed by social media were lower in Guernsey that in the UK.
Tithi Bhagra, from Les Varendes, felt such a compromise would be more proportionate.
‘I definitely think there should be a ban on social media, but I don’t think it should be on under-16s. I think it should be on under-14s or under-13s because that’s the age group that social media affects the most,’ she said.
Delilah Taylor from the same school agreed.
‘It probably needs to be 16 in the UK but in Guernsey it’s a bit different, a bit safer, people are less intense on social media. It might be true that children do need to get their childhood back but once you reach 13 you really want to be in contact with all of your friends via social media.’
None of the pupils interviewed had experienced bullying or coercion via social media. Most said what they would miss most if they were excluded from it would be talking to their friends, particularly those living in other countries around the world.
Every one of the pupils interviewed said they currently got most of their news from social media and so they might be less well informed about current affairs if it was banned.