PASSMORES headteacher, Vic Goddard has appeared on the BBC to discuss the use of social media by pupils.

Mr Goddard was a guest on BBC2’s Newsnight where the main item was a discussion on the pressures on children between the age of eight and twelve and the use of social media such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

The first question was “If you had a chance to eradicate social media for all those under-16, would you take it?

Vic Goddard said: “Yes, the ability to communicate orally is massively affected by their use of social media. It affects their life chances”

Another speaker felt it has been massively overplayed and has been a force for good.

Vic added: “It is about control. We have got to translate what is going on in the real world. Would you allow a stranger to talk to their child in the park? No. But a stranger has the chance to be in your child’s bedroom through social media.

“We let phones in, it is in the bag. A phone is a privilege, not a right. This is not tough love, this is care.

“A parent that gives their child a phone without boundaries is reneging on their responsibilities.

The full interview can be found on the BBC i-player.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09l64jv/newsnight-04012018#