David Gandy calls on ‘addictive’ social media to be banned for under 16s as he reveals his two daughters won’t be allowed to model until they’re 18

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Model David Gandy supports the idea of banning social media for anyone under 16, explaining that these platforms can be addictive and damaging.

The 46-year-old model and his wife, Stephanie Mendoros, have two daughters. He’s also publicly supported efforts in various countries to restrict teenagers’ access to social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

David believes that, in addition to affecting teens’ mental wellbeing, the lack of rules around social media is adding to the pressure young people feel to change how they look.

On Pete Wicks’ podcast, Man Made, the celebrity revealed he won’t let his daughters, Matilda and Tabitha, ages seven and, pursue modeling until they turn 18. He’s worried about them encountering inappropriate or harmful content within the industry.

Following a vote where lawmakers didn’t approve a plan to prohibit social media use for those under 16, concerns about online safety for children remain. Those who favored the ban argued that parents are struggling to protect their children from potential harm online.

I’ve been following David’s work for a while now, and he’s explained that a lot of his thinking on social media really shifted when he came across research showing a huge rise in mental health issues, particularly among young women. It really resonated with me, and it’s clear that data deeply informs his perspective.

He noted the increase started around 2013, coinciding with the growing popularity of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

He stated that, if he had the power, he would ban social media, similar to what Australia, Denmark, and potentially Spain are doing.

Implementing this will be challenging, but I believe it’s crucial to do so quickly for those under 16. Many people, including parents, don’t fully understand how addictive it is – it’s comparable to the addiction caused by smoking, alcohol, or drugs.

The same feel-good chemicals are released in the brain, and I believe it’s important to inform parents about this. While most parents wouldn’t say it’s a positive thing, many are addicted themselves, and that addiction can then spread to their children.

I believe that addressing this would fix many issues. Currently, there’s a lack of oversight, and many individuals are confidently producing harmful content that’s especially damaging to young people.

People often ask if I’d let my daughters become models. I’ve said they could consider it when they’re older – maybe 21 is too much to ask, but definitely around 18.

It’s ironic that we shield our kids from so many dangers, yet readily give them phones that expose them to those same risks. We’re careful about letting them go out, but less cautious about what they access online.

Parents often debate when it’s okay to let kids play outside unsupervised, like at a park. We hesitate not because of genuine danger, but because we’re all glued to our phones. If we put the phones down, kids could have a lot more freedom.

After David and Pete talked about the harmful effects of toxic masculinity, David pointed out how social media can pressure men to look a certain way.

He wondered about the source of the problem, identifying it as social media. He believes the solution is straightforward: get children off social media platforms – it’s that simple, in his view.

Many will likely disagree with me, and I’ve already encountered criticism when people say it’s difficult, but plenty of things are challenging.

‘Do you let your kids out to the pub to go and drink? Do you let them smoke? Good.

Why not help them stop using it? Is it habit-forming, or are you also reliant on it and don’t want to quit?

I believe that’s a good approach right now, and I honestly think it would be effective.

David mentioned in the interview that he and his wife, Stephanie, have decided their daughters won’t begin modeling until they turn 18.

Pete wondered: If his daughters wanted to become models, knowing the realities of that world, would he be concerned?

David believes the modeling industry will likely be replaced by AI by the time his children are old enough to consider it as a career. He predicts that AI-generated imagery will dominate the field by then.

Pete asked if things would really turn out a certain way. The model responded that it believed they would, unless some rules were put in place. It emphasized this was due to basic economic and marketing principles – essentially, Pete was focused on cutting costs, and AI helps with that.

Ultimately, MPs rejected a proposed change to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill by a vote of 307 to 173. The proposal came from Conservative peer Lord Nash, but Labour instructed its MPs to back a different plan offered by the Government instead.

Although not happening right now, a ban is still possible. The House of Commons voted to allow the Secretary of State more authority, which could lead to a ban later on.

A new law in Australia, the first of its kind globally, prevents anyone under the age of 16 from having accounts on popular social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Facebook, Threads, Twitch, and X. The law went into effect on December 10th.

Tech companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million (£26 million) if they don’t prevent children from accessing their platforms, making this the strictest age verification rule for social media globally.

This decision has significantly impacted the tech world and is causing other countries to consider similar actions. For example, Germany recently formed a committee to investigate whether they can implement comparable restrictions, and their findings are expected in the fall of 2026.

Starting January 1, 2026, Malaysia will require social media companies to block users younger than 16. To enforce this, platforms will need to verify users’ ages.

David Gandy became widely known in 2007 after appearing in a Dolce & Gabbana advertisement where he wore only white briefs.

He started his modeling career after winning a competition on the TV show This Morning in 2001. A flatmate entered him in the contest.

Pete Wicks’ Man Made is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

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2026-03-25 18:49