Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes Labour government's U-turn on banning social media for under-16s
The ban follows pressure from more than 60 Labour MPs and aims to curb online harms that officials say existing safeguards cannot stop.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Friday plans to ban children under 16 from social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Instagram starting next year, stating the ban "must happen."
- Following an open letter from more than 60 Labour MPs, the government justified the ban as necessary to address children's well-being, marking a shift from Starmer's earlier skepticism months ago.
- Parents of young creators warn the policy could end opportunities for burgeoning entrepreneurs, with mother Sophie Pugh arguing, "It has to be up to the parents to manage it."
- A petition created by Robyn Rachel Shephard seeking to lower the age threshold to 13 has reached 14,000 signatures, securing a government response, while Meta warned the ban risks "isolating teens from online communities."
- Critics like Christopher Snowdon argue the policy "has all the hallmarks of another government failure," citing Australia's ineffectual ban where 70% of parents report teens still access platforms using VPNs.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Britain Wants To Ban Kids Under 16 From Social Media, And America Should Be Paying Attention
Source: Anna Barclay / Getty Britain is moving toward a major social media ban for children under 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the plan would keep younger teens off major platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and X. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, along with YouTube Kids, would reportedly be excluded. The goal is simple: protect children from the damage adults are seeing every day. And while thi…
Young Money-Makers Shut Down? Parents Say Social Media Ban Will Destroy Young Entrepreneurs and Influencers
Parents of young creators have warned that the UK's planned social media ban for under-16s could affect a new generation of young entrepreneurs and influencers who use platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to build skills, audiences, and income. The concerns emerged after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans on 19 June 2026 to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16. The government has argued that stronge…
Will the under-16s social media ban work?
It’s funny what the pressure of a ticking clock can do to a prime minister, said Hannah Barnes in The New Statesman. Just a few months ago, when more than 60 Labour MPs signed an open letter calling for a social media ban for under-16s, Keir Starmer wasn’t convinced. His own teenage children, he told MPs, had benefitted from using social media. But with a leadership challenge looming, the panicking PM has suddenly “latched” on to this popular po…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
