BBC Breakfast viewers were left in hysterics after a schoolgirl’s response to the social media ban.
One schoolgirl has gone viral for her deadpan response (Image: BBC)
A schoolgirl has gone viral for her response to a BBC presenter’s question about the social media ban.
Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday, June 15, that under-16s will be banned from using social media to protect their health and safety.
He said the ban would give children more time, freedom and opportunities, adding: “That is all any parent wants. They want to know that Britain will be better for their children, that they will get a fair chance.”
If passed in parliament, the ban will come into force by spring 2027, the Prime Minister added.
Not everyone has been left thrilled with the announcement, including several children who will see their social media usage taken away.
One teen appeared on BBC Breakfast, and had a reaction that left viewers “howling”.
While presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent were in the studio, BBC journalist Fiona Lamdin broadcast live from a school in Tarleton, Lancashire.
She began: “I’m just outside Preston at Tarleton Academy, as I arrived this morning, I watched the pupils. These pupils are from year seven to year nine so aged 11-14.
“Like many schools across the country, they put their phone in a pouch which is then locked, a magnetic lock and they cannot then get to that throughout the whole school day.
“This school is completely phone-free. I have to say, we have asked with the permission of the head for the pupils to get their phones out this morning so we can get their screen time.”
Fiona then spoke to various students whose screen times from the weekend were several hours.
One child thought his would be between two and four hours, but actually had ten hours of screen time on one day, which, he said, was mostly spent on TikTok, “scrolling because I’m bored”.
“I’ll just have to adapt, maybe go read a book or go outside,” he admitted, if the changes were to come in force. “I’ll feel quite disappointed, because I’ve got nothing else to do throughout the day, so I’ll just have to do other things that will be fun.”
While he had given options of things he could do if he were to be banned from social media, another school child wasn’t so convinced.
Just hours later, BBC Breakfast returned to Fiona in Lancashire, after Sir Keir’s announcement, as she caught up with the children after the ban had been announced.
Most of the students revealed their disappointment, and schoolgirl Isabella shared: “I didn’t think it would actually happen, l kind of thought he would chicken out of it and give it more time or more consideration but he seems pretty sure of it and I’m not sure if I agree with him.”
She said she was most worried about not being able to contact her friends, adding that she mainly used social media to speak to her family.
After revealing her screen time over the weekend was nine hours, Isabella was asked by Fiona what she would now do with her spare time.
Isabella’s dead pan response followed: “Stare at a wall.”
Viewers were left in hysterics, re-sharing the clip on social media as one person captioned it: “This diva’s got the best reaction to the social media ban x.”
“Icon,” one person replied, as another said: “SCREAMING.” “HOWLING,” another wrote, while one person added: “Nahh she’s jokes.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.