A Northumberland County councillor is calling for young people to voluntarily leave social media as a trial.

This comes after the Australian government proposed a ban on social media for children under 16, with no exceptions for those with parental consent or existing accounts.

Councillor Gordon Stewart, representing Prudhoe South and the council's cabinet member for communities, highlighted the varied impacts of social media on young people.

He said: "The reach of social media respects no geographical boundaries, time of day nor does it proactively protect the impressionable or vulnerable in our society.

"The lives of our young people are far busier and more complicated than in previous generations."

While acknowledging the role of social media in modern communication, he stressed the need for screen breaks, especially when facing personal attacks or exposure to harmful content.

He added: "At one time, children would feel safe when within their homes but now the challenges of social media can reach them everywhere at any time.

"I am calling upon parents, family members, youth groups, and schools to work with the young people they care for and come into contact with to take time out during the festive period by encouraging the under-16-year-olds away from the screens and do something else."