Artograffi #158

We were lucky enough to speak to our local MP David Smith to ask him a few questions. We’ve been writing about the government’s proposed social media ban, so it was good to be able to ask him about it and tell him how we feel.

About David:
Please tell us about what it was like when you were growing up. Where were you born? Did you like school? What was your favourite subject at school?
I was born in Paisley and grew up in West Scotland. I’d say my favourite subject is History – modern British and world history.

Where do you live now? London during the week, and Seahouses (and Sunderland because my son is at school there).

What did you do before you became an MP? Worked for charities to support people. I worked for a homeless charity based in Gateshead, and a peacemaker charity in Northern Ireland.

Why did you want to be an MP? Some decisions only politicians can fix.

About the social media ban:
Do you have kids? Are they on social media? Yes, I have a daughter,20. She’s on social media. My son is 14.He has limited access to soc med. [No Tiktok]

You said in a video on Facebook that 12 year olds spend 29 hours per week on social media. Where did you get your facts from? (Note: we researched you, using social media!) It was from a Gallup poll.

We at Artograffi are not in favour of a ban for under 13s. Do you support a ban and if so, why?
I do support a ban because we need to balance the good things on social media, like people connecting with the same subjects, but we have to weigh up the harm. I have no doubt we should ban it. All kinds of things have an age limit. I think of the risks and harms that young people are exposed to on social media, [eating disorders, grooming, suicide, access to children.] I think young people should get access when they reach the age of maturity. It’s not just things they can access. It’s also about brain development, therefore there should be an age limit.

Why should the government intervene in this? Are there not more serious problems – homeless kids, kids in poverty – that the government should be working on?
It’s not about if it’s more important – government can do more than one thing at a time. My job before was with homeless people. I think when you see things and there’s harm, you should do something about it.

We saw that in Australia kids can still get online. So why make a ban when people can dodge it? I don’t doubt that some people will get around it. When society decides something is against the law, some will always try to get around it. But that shouldn’t stop us making the decision we think is right. We’ve got to come up with some tech solutions. It’s the responsibility of the tech companies who have made us their products. They make billions per year; they are the ones to be held responsible.

Can the government really hold social media companies to account? France and other European countries are looking at a ban. The more countries hold social media companies to account, the harder it will be for them. At the moment they can play one country off against another.

Fun Questions:
What’s your favourite TV show? Stranger Things
What’s your favourite part of Amble? Little Shore
What’s the naughtiest thing you ever did as a kid? Sneaking off with friends when on holiday and I fell in a loch. I was soaking wet. I got into big trouble!

By Lexi, Donny, Skylar, Eden and Esme

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We were really happy to meet Eliot Smith, a contemporary dancer who owns his own dance company, Eliot Smith Dance. Eliot came to speak to us about an exciting new dance opportunity in Amble during the summer.

We asked him how he got into dance. He told us it was when he was nine and attended his first hiphop class, he wanted to become a backing dancer. Later on he got interested in ballet and contemporary dance. When he was 16 he moved to London to train and then when he was 21 he moved to New York.

     Eliot told us “Dancing is my life, it is my passion, I believe I have a voice when I dance.”

     We asked him what contemporary dance is. He explained it’s when dancers tell a story through movement. He said it’s hard work and they have to train every day.

     Eliot is offering an intensive experience in Amble during 5-7 August. This is for ages 8-12 and 13-17, for those young people living in Amble and surrounding areas, who have never done contemporary dance before. He and Yamit Salazar will do a technique class, hiphop and choreography over 3 days. If you take part you will enrol in the first Northumberland Youth Group which will be based in Amble. Eliot hopes that the group will begin in January.

     He told us, “I’m very passionate about this area. There were not many opportunities when I grew up in Heaton. You might become the next big thing or make friends, but you will learn confidence. If you’re interested, email me any questions. There is a fee but if there are any barriers, please email me. Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not.”

By Eden Grace

See more: www.eliotsmithdance.com/youthintensive

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