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Hi @Astra-RO, thank you for posting this! It is really informative. I agree that banning social media alone will not make social media safe for young people and may actually have the potential to make it worse if safety protocols are not put in place to protect young people. More digital literacy education and giving social media users greater control over algorithms are essential and would be more helpful in the long run. Banning social media but not providing the necessary education on how to navigate it once they turn 16 and are finally allowed to access it may make young people more vulnerable and exposed because they will not be equipped with the knowledge and strategies on how to access the internet more safely.  

Nonetheless, I am glad that online mental health services are exempt from the restrictions as young people need to be able to access these services. This change may also cause distress and isolation among young people especially in this day and age when social media is the most efficient way to connect with others. So, it’s great that they will still be able to access support services online.