I see the #UK government are making my son's life more difficult *again*.

Having made SEN support, CAMHS, and schools so underfunded, under-resourced, and over-rigid that he was forced out of formal education, they now want to cut off the one link he has with his closest friends.

Despite no longer seeing each other on a daily basis at school, they still chat regularly. They share fun things, they comfort each other through different times, they encourage each other's art and creativity. Guess how they do all that.

They meet up to hang out, they go to each other's houses, they go to events and films together. Guess how they organise it all.

Yes, a lot of social media is toxic. Yes, we need to protect children from the worst corners of the internet. But firstly, we should do that for everyone by holding the big platforms to account. Secondly, everyone going through age verification is a massive overreach and a hugely problematic proposal. Thirdly, you don't save a child by cutting them off from their lifeline.