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

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.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer has officially confirmed his government will ban social media for all children under 16s.

“Today is a big moment for our country,” he said, thanking campaigners as he addressed a press conference in Downing Street on Monday. “This is a big step, real change for our children and our future.

“Because today I can announce that the government will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16.”

We are waiting for the prime minister to share details of an expected social media ban for under-16s this morning.

Sir Keir Starmer will speak from Downing Street at around 8:10am.

You can read more about what he is set to announce from The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke below:

Many young people support some level of restriction on their social media use, according to the government’s consultation.

More than 6 in ten (62 per cent) said restricting risky features – such as the ability to send explicit images, and restrictions on livestreaming would make them feel safer.

Over 6 in 10 (63 per cent) back limits on explicit image sharing – reflecting deep concerns about exposure to harmful content and sexual imagery.

Around 116,000 people responded to the consultation in total – one of the biggest responses to a government consultation in recent years.

Among them, over 14,000 children and young people aged 10-21 shared their experiences of life online.

Campaigners have warned that a blanket social media ban will “fail to tackle fundamental issues” with social media ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement this morning.

The Molly Rose Foundation, set up in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, said a social media ban “will fail to tackle fundamental product safety risks issues and leaves parents with a false sense of safety”.

Chief executive Andy Burrows said: “A majority of children will continue to use high-risk sites that will have no incentive to implement robust protections.

“This is not what online safety experts believe will work and is necessary. Keir Starmer has chosen to abdicate responsibility for tackling harmful algorithms and his legacy will be setting back children’s safety by years.”

Mark Frankel, head of public affairs at Full Fact, told The Independent the organisation is concerned about the impact of a ban on young people’s media literacy.

“We know that young people predominantly get their information from social media, and predominantly media literacy is an issue across the board when it comes to access to information,” he said.

“Denying them access to information on social media platforms is a problem because it’s essentially what you’re doing is you’re taking with one hand and giving with another.”

Leanda Barrington-Leach, executive director of the 5Rights Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that campaigns for online safety, said “a ban or curfew may change who comes through the front door, but it does not change what is waiting for children inside” and that firms must be driven “to make their products safe for kids”.

Monday’s announcement on a social media ban for under-16s follows a government consultation which saw more than 116,000 responses from experts, parents, and young people.

Of the parents who responded, 90 per cent supported a minimum age of 16 before anyone is able to access social media, with 85 per cent saying the risk of social media outweigh the benefits.