Olivia woke up one morning and immediately reached for her phone. She opened TikTok, looking for some diverting videos to kick start her day. Instead she got a red screen with the message: "Account suspended". Olivia's life would never be the same again.

A social media ban might seem ridiculous. But for younger teenagers in Britain it might be about to become reality.¹

This Wednesday, OfcomThe Office of Communications regulates broadcasting, telecommunications and the postal industry in the UK.  revealed a draft of its new rules. Under them, users will have to prove they are over 13 years old by photo ID.² Tech firms that do not comply with the new rules will be heavily fined.³

This could see millions of accounts closed. As many as 51% children aged three to 12 use a social media app.

Yet this might be only the tip of the iceberg. If tech firms do not follow new rules to protect children, the ban will be extended to everyone under 18.

The proposed changes follow the UK government's new Online Safety Act. This aims to make technology companies more responsible for children's online safety.

The act's supporters claim that social media fails to protect young people from a huge amount of harmful and obscene material. As Michelle Donelan, the government minister behind the act, says: "60% of teens say they are witnessing real-life acts of violence on social media".

It follows several deaths connected with social media. These include 13-year-old Mia Janin, who committed suicide after being cyberbulliedHarassed or bullied by others online, whether through rumours, threats or posting personal information about a victim.; 13-year-old Isaac Kenevan who died attempting a TikTok stunt; and 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, who was murdered by two teenagers inspired by violent online content. The new restrictions hope to prevent further such tragedies.

The ban is also part of an ongoing fight between governments and tech giants. Politicians accuse social media of being too powerful. Earlier this year, the US CongressThe United States Congress is the organisation that makes laws in the United States. signed a bill forcing TikTok's Chinese owners to sell the app or to face being banned entirely in the US.⁴

The proposed ban could represent a huge change, as a government fights back against the effect social media has on society. Ofcom boss Melanie Dawes called it "a big moment".

Yet some think these new rules will not go far enough. Questions remain over how the changes will be implemented. Savvy teens could find a way around the ban. Hollie Dance, whose 12-year-old son died in a TikTok stunt, says "a third of teenagers online are actually using an adult age". 

It is also debatable how much social media affects young people's wellbeing. Psychologist Andrew Przybylski writes: "there's actually very limited solid evidence that demonstrates social media causes mental health issues in children".

Global mental health data from 168 countries over the last 18 years suggests the Internet has had a negligible effect. Only 0.4% of a child's wellbeing is linked to time spent on digital devices.⁵

And even if social media is banned, the habits it has brought into our lives are here to stay. "You can take the platform away," writes Kyle Chayka in the New Yorker, "but it is far too late to contain the habits that it has unleashed."

Is this a real turning point?

Yes: Social media has grown more and more powerful. The UK government has finally mounted a counterattack. Even if these bills are not effective, the door has been opened to further restriction.

No: The ban will require an enormous effort from social media companies in order to work. They currently fail to remove harmful content, so they are unlikely to be much better or more active at banning underage users.

Or... It is, but not for the reason lawmakers think. By forcing social media to identify users with photo IDs, the government is unwittingly giving social media companies even more of our personal data.