In a move that highlights the growing concern over the mental health impact of social media on young people, Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Labour leader Keir Starmer to “just get on” with implementing a ban on under-16s accessing social media platforms.
Badenoch’s comments come after the government announced plans to consult on a potential social media ban for minors by the summer. However, the Conservative leader argues that further delay is unacceptable and is harming children’s wellbeing.
“As a parent – and a Conservative – I know that banning social media for under-16s is the right thing to do,” Badenoch wrote in the Guardian. She emphasised that while age limits exist for alcohol, consent, and safeguarding in schools, the government has “suspended that logic entirely” when it comes to social media.
Badenoch’s calls for action have added to the mounting pressure on the government, as over 60 Labour MPs have also written to Starmer urging him to support a social media ban for under-16s. The letter, organised by Labour MP Fred Thomas, states that “across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy, and unable to focus on learning.”
The push for a social media ban has gained further momentum with a letter from campaigners, including actors Hugh Grant and Sophie Winkleman, as well as Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, who was tragically murdered by two teenagers in 2023. The letter states that national polling by the charity Parentkind found that 93% of parents believe social media is harmful to children and young people.
Badenoch argued that by restricting social media use for children, the government could also provide more freedom for adults online, as they would no longer need to “contort digital spaces to be universally ‘child-friendly’ or impose blanket restrictions on speech and content.”
The Conservative leader emphasised that the consensus among campaigners, clinicians, parents, and experts has shifted in favour of protecting children from the harmful effects of social media. She called on the Prime Minister to set out a clear timeline for implementing the ban, stating that “putting our children’s mental health first is the right thing to do.”
As the debate continues, the government’s upcoming consultation and the proposed amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will likely shape the future of social media access for minors in the UK.
