UK to Ban Under-16s from Social Media by 2027, Echoing Ancient Greek Fears of Theatre

The UK is set to ban under-16s from social media by early 2027, following Australia's 2025 ban that intensified global debate. This move comes amid growing recognition of social media's risks to young people, highlighted by Meta's $18bn (£13.2bn) settlement over teen addiction. The article draws a parallel between modern anxieties over social media's unreal portrayals and ancient Greek 'theatrophobia'—the fear that theatrical performance could overcome reality. The author, a classicist and theologian, cites Lucian of Samosata's anecdotes about actors and audiences losing themselves in performance, such as an actor playing Ajax who actually went mad, and the citizens of Abdera descending into 'tragedy madness' after a performance of Euripides' Andromeda. The article argues that social media, with its filters, AI, and engagement farming, blurs the line between performance and reality, leaving young people ill-equipped to distinguish between the two. While the ban is a step, the author contends it doesn't address the root issue, calling for recognition and challenge of social media's theatricality. The piece was published on The Conversation, with the author being a classicist and theologian.