Starmer considering social media ban for under 16s

Keir Starmer is considering a social media ban for under 16s, despite a study finding it does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who previously opposed social media bans, has announced that he would consider enforcing such a restriction for young people that is similar to the one currently implemented in Australia.

Starmer’s backtracking in his opposition of a social media ban, though it is supported by some members of the Labour Party, adds to the growing list of U-turns made by the current Labour government

Although Starmer previously claimed that Australia’s social media limits were not “the practical way forward”, he has now told MPs that this type of ban could be implemented in the UK.

Starmer’s backtracking in his opposition of a social media ban, though it is supported by some members of the Labour Party, adds to the growing list of U-turns made by the current Labour government.

Many other UK politicians have been calling for a social media ban for an extended period: Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch is one of the most vocal on the matter. Speaking to the BBC on 11 January, she called social media platforms “addictive” and said that a ban would be implemented if her party was elected.

All options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place

Wes Streeting

The House of Lords have also backed a move to implement a social media ban for young people. On 21 January, peers voted to amend the government’s school bill, with 261 voting for a ban and 150 voting against.

Despite these expanding agreements among political leaders, research conducted by the University of Manchester has challenged the idea that social media and gaming intensify teenagers’ feeling of depression and anxiety.

When investigating the effects of both video games and social media usage, no correlation was found to link heightened screen time with declining levels of mental health among young people.

Professor Neil Humphrey, a co-author of this study, intended to focus on how young people are using social media and who they interact with “rather than blaming technology itself.”

Even with these new findings about social media use, over 100,000 people have urged their MP to support a social media ban for under 16s. The Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey, and Reform UK Leader, Nigel Farage, have claimed they are also open to a ban, but that the effects of an Australian-style ban should be analysed prior to implementing such in the UK.

Though not clear in their stance, the Labour government is willing to examine all options regarding young people’s social media usage, with Wes Streeting suggesting that “all options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place”.