London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan expressed support for a ban on social media use for children under 16 during a recent broadcast [1].
The proposal highlights an escalating debate over digital safety and the role of government in regulating the internet to protect minors. As platforms face increasing scrutiny over their impact on mental health and social development, the mayor's stance signals a push for more restrictive age-based access.
Speaking during a discussion on the BBC's Politics London programme, Khan said the measures are necessary to tackle the harms children already face online [1]. He specifically pointed to the influence of the "manosphere" — a collection of online communities and influencers that often promote hyper-masculinity and misogyny — as a critical threat to youth development [1].
Khan warned that the current trajectory of online content consumption is damaging the social fabric for young males. He said the unchecked growth of these digital spaces could lead to long-term societal consequences for the next generation [1].
"We risk creating a lost generation of young men if the manosphere continues to grow unchecked," Khan said [1].
The mayor's comments come amid wider discussions in the UK regarding the Online Safety Act and the ability of platforms to verify the age of their users. While some argue that a ban is the only way to ensure child safety, others suggest that education, and parental controls are more effective tools than total prohibition.
Khan said that the negative impact of these online environments on young men requires urgent intervention to prevent a systemic crisis in masculinity and mental health [1].
“We risk creating a lost generation of young men if the manosphere continues to grow unchecked.”
This position reflects a growing trend among Western policymakers to shift from 'safety by design' to 'access restriction.' By linking social media use to the rise of the manosphere, the Mayor is framing digital regulation not just as a matter of cyber-bullying or privacy, but as a public health and sociological intervention to prevent the radicalization of young men.
