These were the words of a young school pupil, asked by the BBC how she would replace her 9-hour daily screen time once the UK social media ban comes into effect.

The UK social media ban planned for 2027 is controversial among thousands, possibly millions, of young people who will be affected, despite 90 per cent of their parents recognising the need for change.

Arguments focus on: the government should push harder with tech companies (impossible considering their size and power, Meta alone, valued at 2.2 trillion USD, is larger than the entire economy of Turkey, which has a GDP of 1.74 trillion USD). Parents should have greater control over their children’s screen time (so tricky) ; U-tube is educational ( I get this) ; this is the way that young people now communicate and we don’t understand this ( probably) ; it is a forum for support, not only harm ( two sides to every story) ; they will find a way around it ( 70% of Australian children have apparently circumnavigated the rules); young people have launched businesses on social media accounts ( the entrepreneur can wait to be sixteen) ; it’s a way of sneaking in ID to the UK population (let’s not kid ourselves that we aren’t already easy to locate, and living now, as I do, in a country with ID, I now support) ; what will kids do now with the eight hours of free time bar “stare at the walls”?

Isn’t it important to replace scrolling time with other stimulating events? Particularly where young people can have real-life, face-to-face contact. A return maybe to more sport, arts, debate, ” How social media can secure us from harm”? Even business training, ” How to set up an online business when you are 16/18″, ” Management of money, opening a bank account”, ” Economic Models and algorithmic Tech”?. Training in Social skills: ” Communication, forming bonds and friendships, networking”.

Could we not rejuvenate our town centres, making them cool, safe places for young people to meet, have coffee, eat, and shop? As my family visitor, Michelle, suggested to me, “If young people want social media, could we not give them curated social media before showing films at the cinema”? Let’s find out what will bring young people out of the home and back into successful real-life meet-ups with each other. Let’s get back into a vibrant high street, to which surely their parents and grandparents will follow. Rebuilding the communities that we have seemingly lost and towns that we have gutted. Retailers can spearhead this important change. A change that will benefit all of us.