The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is confronting significant internal pressure as a group of 61 Labour backbenchers demands he implements a ban on social media access for children under 16. This push comes directly against the advice of campaigners, including Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life after viewing harmful content online.
A Growing Backbench Rebellion
The rebellion is spearheaded by Fred Thomas, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, who published a letter to the Prime Minister signed by dozens of colleagues. The signatories, largely from the party's 2024 intake but also including longer-serving MPs like Graham Stringer and Richard Burgon, argue that "harmful, addictive" content on platforms is causing clear damage to young people's mental health.
They point to recent action in Australia, which last month introduced a ban placing the onus on tech firms to block under-16s, and note that nations including Denmark, France, and Norway are expected to follow. "Britain risks being left behind," the MPs warn.
Opposition from Bereaved Families and Charities
In a powerful counter-argument, Ian Russell has joined forces with over 40 charities, medical experts, and campaigners to warn against a blanket ban. Mr Russell, who chairs the Molly Rose Foundation, fears such a move would be "ambition-led, politically-led, panic-led" and could have dangerous unintended consequences.
The coalition argues that a ban could drive vulnerable young people towards less regulated corners of the internet, such as gaming platforms or even darker suicide forums. They also warn it could create a perilous "cliff edge" at age 16 and deprive isolated teenagers of vital peer support networks.
Instead, they urge the government to focus on the robust enforcement of existing laws, like the Online Safety Act, to force tech companies to act. Mr Russell cited Ofcom's investigation into Elon Musk's Grok AI as an example of how regulator pressure can yield results.
Political Cross-Party Support and Forthcoming Vote
The call for a ban has found support across the political aisle. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backs the measure, as does Labour's Health Secretary, Wes Streeting. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a potential future Labour leadership contender, has also agreed with "a lot of what Kemi Badenoch is saying" on the issue.
The debate is set to move to the House of Lords this week, where peers will vote on an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill tabled by former Tory minister Lord Nash. The amendment is jointly sponsored by peers from across the chamber, including Lib Dem Baroness Benjamin and Labour's Baroness Berger.
As the Prime Minister weighs his options, having previously said "all options are on the table", he is caught between a growing parliamentary movement and stark warnings from those who have experienced the worst outcomes of online harm. The decision will define the UK's approach to protecting children in the digital age.
