How to argue for or against a social media ban for under-16s
The situation
The under-16 social media ban has come up and someone's made the practical objection. Argue for the ban — with the objection in mind, not ignored. What do you say?
They open with: “You can't ban teenagers from social media. They'll just find a way round it, and then they're doing it in secret.”
Why it's hard: The practical objection — "they'll just get round it" — is true of every rule, so the argument turns on whether fewer is better than more, not on perfect enforcement.
Two things you could say
“Some will get round it, yeah — same as with alcohol and driving. "A rule isn't perfect" has never been a reason not to have it. The question is whether fewer kids on there is better than the free-for-all now.”
Answering the strongest objection first, with an analogy they already accept, disarms it before you make your positive case, which is the order that persuades.
“I'd separate the goal from the method. Even if you think a ban's unworkable, do we at least agree the current situation is bad? Because if we agree on that, we're just haggling over the fix.”
Getting agreement on the problem before arguing the solution narrows the disagreement and stops them using "your fix is flawed" to dodge the whole issue.
What to avoid
"So you just want kids glued to their phones forever?" — the strawman forces them to defend a position nobody holds, and it means the actual question — does a ban do more good than harm? — never gets argued.
The principle
Answer the strongest objection first, then make your case. "Some will get round it" is true of every law; the question is whether fewer is better than more. Say that in one line and you've disarmed them.
The skill underneath it
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