What do you think about a social media ban for under 16s? What will be the impact for young people and what are the issues that the youth work sector need to engage with right now? Are there alternative approaches? This survey is for those who work with children and young people in Scotland.

Please help us influence by sharing your views. All responses will be anonymised.

The UK Government is currently consulting on children and young people’s social media use and exploring what further legislation is required and what further action they will take in this area. The youth work voice is important in this conversation.

We are gathering your views on this important issue so we can:

- understand views from the youth work sector in Scotland
- contribute those views to the UK Government consultation
- develop key ideas and approaches to enable the youth work sector to contribute in this important area and support young people in Scotland

Some of the questions in our short survey align directly with the main UK Government consultation. Please make sure you also complete the UK Government Consultation as well as this survey, and encourage young people also to fill out the UK Government Consultation, they have a specific survey for young people aged 10-to-21.

This survey will be open until Monday 4th May 2026.

Thank you for your support,

YouthLink Scotland
info@youthlink.scot


You will find the link to the UK Government Consultation here:

Growing up in the online world: a national consultation - GOV.UK

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* 1. Core principles

Tell us your view on each of the following statements.

  Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree
Children and young people’s rights and wellbeing must come first in decisions about the online world.
Current systems and legislation adequately protect young people’s rights online (including safety, privacy, non-discrimination and being heard).
Further legislation is required to make social media and phone use safer for young people.
Government action on social media access should be evidence-led and prioritise health and wellbeing over commercial interests.
Regulators must take stronger action to ensure technology companies are transparent and accountable when harm occurs.
Youth work provides uniquely trusted spaces where young people can build digital literacy, critical thinking and healthy boundaries with technology.
Digital access is essential for modern life, and safety measures must not deepen inequality or exclude marginalised young people.

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* 2. In your role as a youth worker, how often have you been aware of the following through your work in the past 12 months?

  Very Frequently Frequently Occasionally Rarely Never
Exposure to harmful or distressing content
Online bullying or peer conflict
Pressure linked to image, status or validation
Anxiety linked to constant connectivity
Sleep disruption linked to phone use
Misinformation or harmful online influencers
Online exploitation or coercion risks
Positive digital creativity
Positive social connection online
Young people pursuing enjoyable hobbies and activities online
Technology used to enable youth activism
Young people learning new digital skills
Young people developing critical awareness of aspects of technology
Youth work delivered via a social media platform

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* 3. What are the harms or risks of social media use, and being online, that are currently affecting the young people you work with?

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* 4. What are the benefits of social media use, and being online, for young people?

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* 5. Would you support a legal requirement for social media services to have a minimum age of access?

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* 6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Social media services should have a minimum age of access of at least 16 and should not be accessible to any children under that age”

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* 7. Would you support a legal requirement for social media services to have a minimum age of access lower than 16? If so, at what age would you set it?

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* 8. What impact might stricter age-verification systems, if brought in by UK Government, have on young people’s access, safety, or willingness to seek help and support?

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* 9. How do you think a legal change to age-based restrictions on social media (e.g. under-16s) would affect the young people you work with?

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* 10. What changes in behaviour or risk might you expect to see?

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* 11. To what extent do you see platform design (e.g. pressure to stay online, constant notifications, infinite scroll) affecting young people’s wellbeing?

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* 12. What examples are you seeing in practice?

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* 13. How are you currently supporting young people in their online lives? Select all that apply.

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* 14. Please briefly describe what this looks like in practice. Include examples where you have seen change, prevention or real benefit from the work.

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* 15. What are the main barriers to providing stronger support? Select those that are relevant.

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* 16. How important is it that any new regulation is accompanied by education and youth work support rather than relying solely on restrictions?

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* 17. How appropriate would a coordinated national youth work–led programme on online wellbeing be in Scotland?

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* 18. What should be the key aims of such a programme?

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* 19. What would success look like in five years’ time?

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* 20. How can Scotland ensure that online safety measures do not deepen digital inequality?

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* 21. Please help by telling us a few things about yourself and your organisation...

I work or volunteer in Scotland

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* 22. I work or volunteer in the Youth Work Sector

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* 23. Is your organisation Local Authority or Third Sector?

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* 24. Approx how many children and young people do you work with

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* 25. Age range of children and young people - select all applicable

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* 26. Other ways you can help....

Would you be happy to be involved in any promotional work around Digital Youth Work, for example, filming, case studies or interviews?

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* 28. If yes, please provide your name (please note that your contact details will only be used in relation to this opportunity to contribute. The data from the survey and analysis from the survey will be entirely confidential and the survey data will only be used in aggregate and anonymously).

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* 29. Any other comments.

Thank you for taking part in this survey.

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