Artograffi #157
Should there be a social media ban for under 16s?
Some people want a ban on social media for young people, because they want to keep their kids away from the dangers. Some of these dangers include: Cyberbullying, youth mental health, exposure to violent or inappropriate content. It’s addictive.
Despite all of this, none of us here at Artograffi think they should ban under 16s from social media, especially because we are already on there. We think kids would just find a way around the ban. We think there are rules already on the platforms, so the social media companies should be made to enforce the rules. Parents should be in charge of kids’ use of social media.
Skylar (12y 7 months): I don’t think we should [have a ban]. Because up to now they are saying it’s ok for 13+ to be on social media, so they shouldn’t be able to take it away!
Nina (13y 5months): They should ban it for under 13 because under 13s could see harmful or dangerous stuff online and it could be added to the algorithms which could show them more. Most apps have a limit of 13 which should be the ban. According to reports from the BBC, many teens in Australia are still able to access social media and have not been affected from this ban. This shows that it didn’t work.
Issy (12y 10 months): I feel social media should be for anyone over 13. I understand why parents are worried. But parents should be in charge of their children’s social media and you should put your real age, so content can be targeted to age groups.
Donny (12y 11 months): I think the ban is not okay because I think they are trying to take the law from Australia and bring it to Britain.
Lexi (13y 3months): We rely heavily on social media for research and home learning, such as TikTok STEM feed, and inspiration for the way we set out notes and projects. Personally if they ban socials such as Pinterest [and Spotify], Nina and I will probably die!
I have noticed that some politicians use social media to influence young people and they join in on Tiktok trends.
Social media companies are not being held responsible for their security and they don’t listen to the public and their opinions such as keeping young adults safer. I don’t think the children should be blamed, I think the social media companies should be made responsible for keeping kids safe.
What do you think? The government wants to hear from children and young people about this subject. You can fill in their survey but you must have a parent or guardian to fill in some of it. See: https://bit.ly/4b0tSap
By Lexi and Nina
Why you should keep updated with Artograffi
You should keep updated with us because we are young people who post relatable stuff about the local town, and we make our voices heard about like how high crisp and drink prices are getting in shops, or how we think the council should keep the green outdoor spaces at the new school!
We try to make our voices heard because young and children our age don’t get heard often unless we make a big announcement about it, so if local people read our part in the middle of The Ambler, they might help us get heard by people in power.
At Artograffi we went to the county council a few weeks ago and we talked to some important leaders in a meeting about what we is happening to the school and our lives. We also go around Amble trying to help Amble community by noticing stuff that going to be built or happening. For example, on the Braid there will be houses built there soon. But the problem with that is there are a lot of trees and nature there and it will ruin some of the animals’ habitats. In Amble there will always be effects of positives and negatives.
You should also keep in touch with us with as well as we don’t just talk about Amble. We talk about all sorts of things which concern us as young people, so if you don’t think something is fair, get in touch with us at Artograffi and let us know.
Email us at editor@theambler.co.uk
By Maisie
Our views on school uniforms
We heard about the new school uniform and I think it is nice, and we are getting rid of the blazers which is amazing, but we are keeping the school jumpers which are very thin. In the winter we are not allowed to wear coats inside, so I think they should make the jumpers thicker than they are.
Here’s what our new uniform will be: Navy blue v neck jumper with school logo, Charcoal grey trousers or skirt, White shirt, Tie (different design for each year group.)
We had a discussion about whether school uniforms are good or bad.
Indie: I think we should have school uniform because it could be unfair for people in case they don’t have branded clothes.
Eden: I think we shouldn’t, because its unfair that parents have to buy new uniform instead of using it again.
Donny: I think that we should not have school uniform, because then everyone can wear what they want.
Esme: I think we should have school uniform, then people won’t have to wear a different outfit everyday. Some children may not have clothes as expensive as others, which could make them ask parents for them, which costs money. However school uniform is uncomfortable.
Lexi: I think we should have school uniform because you would be rewearing stuff eventually. Some people would be embarrassed about what
brand their clothes are. People hate school uniform because its not ‘trendy’
Nina: One reason we shouldn’t have a school uniform is inflation on clothes. Like with cheap fast fashion, they aren’t made well in factories.
On the other hand, with everyone wearing the same thing, it can prevent bullying for not having the ‘best’ or ‘newest’ or ‘trendy’ clothes that everyone has. It also shows that everyone is a part of the school.
It is also unfair to parents who have to prepare five separate outfits per week and so on. By having a uniform it shows that everyone goes to the school and it helps with the safety of pupils as if some stranger walks in, they will be easily recognized.
By Skylar
Uniform ideas by Skylar
Do you wonder what our new school will be like?
Are you happy or worried for the new build? I am excited because our school is like over 40 years old and is falling to bits and every time it rains a lot it leaks.
The things I’m most looking forward to in the new school would be no leaks in the roof, new toilets with mirrors too, and new cleanish classrooms.
I hope there will be enough space in SEN learning support as that is important to me.
I hope the canteen and hall will be bigger with more staff so we don’t have long queues. I’m a bit worried that we will have a new school but it will be filled with old tat furniture and ancient computers.
I went to the Community Partnership meeting and saw the school plans. I spoke to Cllr Guy Renner Thompson who is in charge of the new school. I wish young people had been asked more about what they want from a school. I wish Guy could have told me some more about the school. I asked him about the missing outdoor spaces. He said there’s no more money in the budget.
By Issy
Offline fun for teens
People always say teens are on their phones but it’s not true. Obviously I have a phone, like pretty much every teen, but no, I am not addicted to it.
I have many hobbies such as St John’s Ambulance cadets, and crocheting.
Some young people are addicted to their phones and should try to find other things to do, but there are many people who I know do many more things than sit on their phone – such as dance, cadets, dog walking, football, swimming and cycling
By Indie
Dancing is a really good sport for people around my age. It’s physically good for you and it helps your mental health.
I attend dance classes, I have been doing it since I was six, and it’s really enjoyable. I love practicing my tricks and improving my flexibility.
Also, I love different dance styles like freestyle, hiphop and lyrical and different types of movements and how my flexibility goes into it. I go to JCSC Dance Studio on Thursdays 6-7.30pm
By Eden
Be glad to be a boy!
Did you know that 16 May is International Boys’ Day?
This was started in 2018 by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago. (He also founded International Men’s Day).
The day is to highlight challenges like educational gaps, mental health and safety. Sometimes boys get a negative time, this day is meant to help encourage boys to follow their dreams. It is also important to let boys know they can show emotions. People are encouraged to show support to boys and spend quality time with them.
Sometimes I think it’s tough being a boy because I think boys are expected to do a lot of things like building, working hard and, for me, cadets. At cadets you have a lot expected of you, so you have to be in full uniform to get into your division and if you turn up in non uniform you get put into the new entries group in the middle.
You’re expected to be the best you can in classes so you can improve and improve and improve until you’re at the peak of your career – and then you can rest.
When I get back from school I get changed from my school uniform into my normal clothes, then one hour later my uniform gets ironed and I put it on. Then I go to Ashington till 9 o’clock and then get home for my tea and then go to sleep then get up at 6am for my paper round which is half an hour, then rush back to school for 6 hours, then get back home.
By Donny
International Boys’ Day 16 May, International Men’s Day 19 Nov
International Girls’ Day 11 Oct, International Women’s Day 8 March
Glad to see mention of International Boys’ Day on 16 May and also International Men’s Day 19 November