01/09/2026
THE SOCIAL MEDIA BAN: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUTH MINISTRY?
A Conversation with Martin Saunders
The UK Government has announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing mainstream social media from Spring 2027.
But is this really a conversation about social media... or is it a conversation about childhood, discipleship, and the kind of people we're becoming?
In the latest episode of the Limitless Youth Ministry Podcast, Martin Saunders from Youthscape joins us to unpack one of the biggest cultural shifts affecting young people in recent years — and what it means for youth leaders.
Together we explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the proposed ban:
What's actually changing?
What the legislation includes, who it affects, and what it could mean in practice.
Will it work?
Whether banning social media addresses the root causes of the problem, or simply treats the symptoms.
What does this say about our culture?
Why adults are increasingly recognising the impact of digital life in their own lives as well as those of young people.
What does this mean for youth ministry?
What youth leaders may need to stop doing... and what they should start doing instead.
The future of spiritual formation
The opportunities and challenges of discipling a generation growing up in an increasingly digital world.
What can the Church offer?
Why authentic community, belonging and apprenticeship to Jesus may be more compelling than ever.
Whether you're excited by the proposals, sceptical about their effectiveness, or simply trying to make sense of what it all means, this conversation will help you think biblically, pastorally, and practically about one of the biggest issues facing young people today.
Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69NUasBpLS1J9rsbkiNZo7?si=18c84e35f12640ea
Also available on Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
