A legislated age to use social media?

There are renewed calls for a legislated age to use social media. It seems that some people believe there is a means of preventing children from using any sort of social media.

I doubt that is possible. There have been attempts to bring in rules banning the use of mobile phones at schools. Given that students almost invariably have lap tops now that is not going to impact their ability to learn. Turning off the phone may actually increase that.

I know teachers who have welcomed the phone ban. It is difficult to teach when students are sneaking peeks at their phones and sending messages to their friends (and enemies) during a lesson. During my time at school people made paper planes and sent their illegal classroom messages that way. They were much more likely to get caught. I never used that method. (No, I was not "good". I could not make paper planes and being "the teacher's kid" puts a stop to a lot of things.)

There are suggestions that banning mobile phone use during the school day has helped to improve behaviour, reduce bullying and increase social interaction. If it is true then there is something to be said for it. 

Would it work if they tried to ban social media use? I am not sure they can ban social media use. If they could and it actually worked then what would take the place of it? I am concerned about the increasing use of our education system to try and inculcate left wing ideas into students. They need to be presented with a range of ideas without being told this one is right and that one is wrong. If face to face contact increases and students talk more to each other away from screens it might be useful but only if they are presented with that range of ideas.

If we try to prevent all social media use then it will only seem even more desirable. It isn't good for a seven year old to spend hours playing games. It is good when a thirteen year old teaches learns about tatting from You Tube videos and comes to knitting group having mastered the basic knot. There needs to be a balance there. If the means is there to prevent a young child from signing in to unsuitable matter then it should be used. If the means is there to prevent children spending more time at a screen than a set number of hours week then it might be a good thing. Apart from that I doubt that banning social media will work. That horse bolted long ago.