The social media ban for under-16s is going to stop teenagers from watching a lot of things: clips from their favourite shows, sports highlights, gaming reviews and just about anything else you can imagine.

What hasn’t been discussed much is the impact it will have on young people’s ability to access news and information.

To be clear, this isn’t my main reason for opposing the ban – not even close. Privacy concerns, lack of proper consultation with young people, the overlooked negative impact a ban can have on many teens and the lack of parental exemptions are just some of the issues that have been raised since this idea was first floated last year.

But in a constantly evolving world, where people of all ages and backgrounds are going online to stay informed, ensuring that young people are not left behind is crucial.

It’s not as simple as telling a young person to watch the six o’clock news on free-to-air........

© The Guardian