In a heartbreaking turn of events, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to ban social media access for under-16s. This plea comes in the wake of Brianna’s brutal killing in Warrington, Cheshire, in 2023, which was partly motivated by her transgender identity.
Esther Ghey, Brianna’s mother, has detailed how her daughter’s eating disorder and self-harm were exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online. Brianna had become obsessed with TikTok influencers and even entertained the idea of becoming a sex worker, all while Esther struggled to monitor her daughter’s social media use.
“Brianna had a social media addiction and struggled with her mental health from the age of 14. She developed an eating disorder and was self-harming, and all of this was significantly exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online,” Esther wrote in a letter to Starmer.
Tragically, Brianna was murdered by two fellow teenagers in a brutal attack. Her mother’s heartbreaking account has now joined the growing calls for the government to take action and ban social media access for younger users.
Esther Ghey is not alone in her plea. She has joined eight other sets of bereaved parents in urging the government to back a move in the House of Lords to prohibit teenagers under 16 from accessing social media platforms entirely.
“We are allowing an entire generation to have their time, attention, and potential consumed by platforms designed to keep them hooked,” the parents wrote in their letter to the Prime Minister, which was also sent to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
The government is expected to publish a consultation this week on a range of options for improving child safety online, including a potential social media ban. However, it remains unclear whether this would be enough to persuade Labour MPs and peers to back down from their demands.
Starmer has indicated that he is open to the idea of a ban, but his allies have expressed concerns about the implementation and the potential for pushing some children towards the dark web.
The tragic case of Brianna Ghey has once again highlighted the urgent need to address the harmful impact of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being. As the government considers its options, the calls for decisive action to protect vulnerable children continue to grow louder.