Social media ban UK latest: Starmer confirms plans for under-16s online crackdown in reforms of ‘failing system’

A parent whose daughter was killed by two teenagers told BBC Breakfast that she was “happy” to hear the government investing in after-school clubs while bringing in a social media ban.

Esther Ghey’s daughter, Brianna, was 16 years old when she was murdered in 2023 by two teenagers who had accessed harmful content online.

Ms Ghey said: “Another thing that I’m really happy about is that the government are now investing in after-school clubs, because we can’t just take things away from children.

“I think that although we are celebrating, that this can potentially save so many children’s lives, but there will be children and other campaigners out there that will be concerned about this decision, and we need to make sure that there is support in place for these children and for these families.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer has denied he has announced a social media ban in order to secure his legacy.

The prime minister will likely face a challenge to his leadership if Andy Burnham claims victory in Thursday’s by-election in Makerfield.

Asked if he was announcing the ban this week because of the contest, he said: “In relation to the legacy issues, I see this differently. This is a huge issue for the country. This isn’t about any one individual.”

He said the by-election “not what it’s about”, adding: “So, for me, this is bigger than some of the usual to and fro’s of politics, although there’s plenty of that.”

The government has set out a number of apps it intends to ban for under-16s as part of sweeping social media reforms.

It has said the ban will include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will also have to enforce a minimum age of 18.

But the government does not expect to ban under-16s from messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal, it said.

The ban is likely to include a narrowly defined list of exemptions in order to allow children to access educational platforms and music streaming sites.

The prime minister said that the proposals will take “world-leading action on gaming services and live-streaming platforms”.

Sir Keir Starmer told a press conference: “It won’t be easy, I mean, some technology companies want us to think that social media is unchangeable, part of an almost natural order, but we have to resist that kind of learned helplessness. We have agency, we can change it, and we will.

“Yes, it’s hard, hard to legislate for, hard to regulate, hard to enforce, that is why we sought a wide range of views on this.

He added: “That is why we listened to people, had a conversation, we looked carefully at the evidence, learned from countries like Australia that are taking similar steps, and we are not just bringing forward a ban, we are going further, we’re taking world-leading action on gaming services and live-streaming platforms, where at the moment strangers can contact any child unchecked.

“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger, an adult that you don’t know anything about? No, so we’re taking action on that.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

The incoming ban on social media for under 16s will come into force in the early part of 2027, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The prime minister said his government hopes to pass regulations before Christmas, and therefore bring the ban into force around springtime next year.

“We’re going to go at speed now,” he said. “We’ve taken the preparatory measures to make sure that we could do that, precisely why we did that some months ago.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer accepted that a social media ban for under 16s won’t prevent all young people from accessing platforms.

The prime minister defended the policy as the right move regardless, comparing it to age limits on selling alcohols.

He said: “Now, will it mean that no child ever logs on to social media again?

“No, but look, this might shock you, but it doesn’t shock parents of teenagers – they get around other laws too.

“But we don’t say, ‘Oh, look, a teenager managed to get a drink somehow, so let’s not bother banning alcohol sales to children’.

“We don’t do that, do we? That will be utterly ridiculous. And so I just don’t accept that argument.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to fight “the most powerful companies in the world” as he announces a ban on social media for under 16s.

The prime minister said the move will show the government “stands by” parents worried about the impacts of social media on young people and will “fight for their happiness and safety against the most powerful companies in the world”.

“Because this could be a fight, and to this point it has been a fight. It doesn’t have to be.

“I always prefer the politics of partnership, and I fundamentally believe that we must harness the power of technology to build a stronger, fairer Britain, but we must also protect our children, and so I want this message to be heard loud and clear.

“I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and that is why this ban will happen.”

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox writes:

The problem with Keir Starmer’s premiership is that the uncertainty of his decision making and multiple U-turns makes him constantly at the mercy of events rather than leading them.

While many will welcome this announcement on social media ban for under-16s, the problem is that Sir Keir has resisted a ban for more than a year. It has been pushed by the Tories and others including in Labour but Sir Keir did not want to do it.

As he even noted today: “This is not something I do lightly. It is not cost free. I am not going to say that social media has done nothing good for children.”

The issue is a little like his decision to scrap two child benefit, something else he resisted against demands of his own backbenchers and eventually was forced into as his position weakened politically.

Now this decision on a social media ban is taking place in a context where many expect Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to be elected in the by-election and launch a campaign to replace Sir Keir.

In some ways now, this ban may end up being more about Sir Keir’s legacy rather than something that could save him.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is banning social media for under 16s because it is making children “unhappy”.

Announcing the ban at a press conference on Monday, Sir Keir said: “I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue, you know.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants.

“But I ask the question now, do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?”

He added: “Social media is making children unhappy, it’s making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that’s what grabs the attention.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer began his press conference on Monday by celebrating the ceasefire between the US and Iran.

“I welcome the breakthrough reached last night between the US and Iran, and I congratulate President Trump, the mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, and all those involved,” he said.

“This is a hugely significant moment. We have long called for de-escalation, and it is vital that all parties seize this opportunity to secure stability in the region and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which in turn will ease the economic pressures felt by people here in the United Kingdom and around the world.”