David Gandy: Ban Social Media for Under-16s

0:00On March 25, Model David Gandy, the 46-year-old father of two young daughters, is calling for a total ban on social media for anyone under 16. He describes these platforms as highly addictive, comparing them to smoking, drinking, or drugs because they trigger the same endorphins in the brain. Gandy points to a sharp rise in mental health issues among teen girls starting around 2013, right when sites like Instagram took off. On Pete Wicks' man-made podcast, Gandy shared his strict rules at home. He won't let his seven-year-old daughter Matilda, or her sister Tabitha, use social media, and he plans to keep them out of modeling until they turn. 18. He worries about unregulated content pushing kids toward harmful appearance changes, much like pressures in the fashion world. Parents and experts agree it's putting families in a tough spot, with many feeling powerless against the harms. In the UK, members of parliament recently voted down a proposed ban by a count of 3-7 to 173, despite strong, pushes for better online child safety.

1:05Meanwhile, other countries are moving ahead. Australia wrote out the world's toughest law last December 10th, blocking under 16s from major platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, with fines. Up to almost 50 million Australian dollars for companies that don't comply. Malaysia plans similar blocks starting January 1st, 2026, and places like Denmark, Spain, and Germany are exploring options too. Gandy urges educating parents about the risks and giving kids more real-world freedom instead, saying removing phones could quickly cut down on issues. Like toxic body image pressures for both boys and girls. That's the story for today. Entertainment and celebrity news. Today, driven by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.