More than 60 Labour Members of Parliament have called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to consider banning under-16s from accessing social media platforms, citing growing concerns about the impact of unregulated online spaces on young people’s wellbeing.
In an open letter sent to the Prime Minister on Sunday, 61 MPs argued that “successive governments” have failed to do enough to protect children from what they described as addictive and poorly regulated social media platforms. They urged Sir Keir to follow the example of Australia, which introduced a ban on under-16s using social media in December.
Sir Keir has not ruled out such a move, saying that “all options are on the table” as the government reviews online safety measures. The debate is expected to intensify next week when the House of Lords votes on a Liberal Democrat proposal that would restrict access to social media platforms using film-style age ratings.
The MPs said they had received widespread feedback from constituents who were worried about the effect of social media on children’s mental health, education and social development.
“Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning,” the letter read. “They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood.”
The signatories warned that the UK risks falling behind other nations on online child protection, noting that Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece are also considering similar legislation. The letter was reportedly organised by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas and signed by senior figures including education select committee chair Helen Hayes, former education minister Catherine McKinnell and former shadow cabinet minister Richard Burgon.
The call adds to mounting political pressure on the government to take firmer action. Last week, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would introduce an under-16s social media ban if it won the next general election.
Under the Liberal Democrats’ proposal, social media platforms would be graded based on content and design features. Platforms using addictive algorithmic feeds or hosting inappropriate material would be limited to users aged 16 and above, while those containing graphic violence or pornographic content would be restricted to adults only.
However, the idea of a blanket ban has drawn criticism from several children’s charities and online safety organisations. Groups including the NSPCC, Childnet and the Molly Rose Foundation argued in a joint statement that such a ban would be the “wrong solution”.
They warned it could create a false sense of security and push children towards less regulated parts of the internet. Instead, they called for stricter enforcement of existing laws, particularly those preventing under-13s from accessing certain online services, and for stronger safeguards tailored to children’s different ages.
Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful online content, said the government should prioritise enforcing current legislation rather than adopting what he described as “sledgehammer techniques”. He cautioned that a ban could have unintended consequences and potentially create new risks for young people.
Melissa Enoch
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