Jamaica parent and child-health leaders urge under-16 social media ban

Calls for a social media ban on Jamaican children younger than 16 are gaining ground as concerns mount over online safety, mental health, and exposure to harmful material. Similar restrictions were introduced overseas last year, including in the United Kingdom, and advocates say Jamaica should weigh whether the same approach can work here.

Stewart Jacobs, president of the National Parent Teachers Association of Jamaica, argued that harmful online habits have moved well beyond manageable levels. He said many youngsters now show deliberate addiction to questionable content that fuels mental health problems, draws in online predators, spreads political and religious misinformation, and exposes families through careless posts that can reveal home addresses, licence plates, and even safes.

Jacobs also pointed to cyberbullying and radicalisation, noting that online abuse can leave psychological wounds that heal more slowly than physical ones. He praised steps taken in Australia, which moved first, and the UK, saying early signs suggest calmer behaviour among young users. He stressed, however, that change must start with parents checking devices and resisting the temptation to use screens as pacifiers, rather than expecting government or schools alone to police the home.

Child psychologist Dr. Arlene Brown-Earl said clinics are seeing more anxiety, rising youth depression, and serious self-image problems linked to unrealistic online ideals. She agreed bans could shield children from grooming, doom scrolling, and hyper-personalised algorithms. She highlighted children on the autism spectrum, noting that parents often hand them devices to settle them, which can deepen impulsive use, burnout, and difficulty learning everyday social cues.

Both guests said they fully support an under-16 ban. Brown-Earl, who estimated she spends about 30% of her day online but still prefers reading printed books, urged families to set firm limits such as two daily hours on devices, then return to conversation, outdoor play, sport, and reading without screens. She warned that when parents stay glued to phones during car journeys or meals, children bond with strangers online instead of with family, and household blame often falls on schools and communities while the device in the child’s hand goes unchecked.