Boris says we are in a lockdown – it certainly doesn’t feel like it. For schoolchildren, the line is especially blurred between what you are and not allowed to do. You can go to school, yet not hang out with friends out of school. You can’t go to anyone’s house, but can sit in a classroom of thirty people. This is most likely because it is harder to police socialising outside a school, but it still barely makes logical sense.
For this reason, we see many sizeable groups of teenagers dotted around parks, or on the high streets. Can you blame them? From around thirteen, children have enough understanding of the world and our unique situation in the midst of Covid-19 to decide whether they should go out, and meet friends. Obviously, if you or your family members are more at risk, you will be more cautious with who you choose to socialise, but overall, they have the common sense to stay at home when necessary.
Socialising is incredibly important for young adults, as they need those interactions to maintain health, both mentally and physically. It is generally agreed upon by scientists that there is a correlation between the body’s mental health and the immune system, and during a developing stage it is crucial for their bodies to be functioning properly. Connection only through technology is unhealthy, and has many negative side-effects such as spread of misinformation and problems with body image.
There are some things that teenagers absolutely cannot do without during adolescence, and seeing friends is one of them. The last lockdown led to a distinct increase in anxiety levels for young people in the UK, meaning the rates of suicide were suspected to be at a peak, according to the ONS . We can’t allow this to happen again.
