31 h. ago Young survivors have been calling for help to deal with online abuse – we should listen to them

Long before proposed social media bans for under 16s, young people have been calling for help, our research shows they want an approach that works around them, Sara Davis and Camila Gil write

Events

3 d. ago Inside Australia’s total ban on under 16s using social media as Starmer seeks advice on UK app clampdown

SIR Keir Starmer has spoken to Australian PM Anthony Albanese about his country’s social media ban for under-16s. Our Prime Minister — who previously opposed a clampdown — last week announced a consultation on UK legislation preventing young teenagers from accessing sites such as TikTok and YouTube. A spokesman for the Australian government told The...

Politics

4 d. ago Mums of teens whose brutal attacks were filmed for online back progress on social media ban for kids

A ban on social media for under-16s has been backed by the House of Lords.

Events

5 d. ago Do social media bans work? What the evidence says as Lords back UK ban for under

The House of Lords has backed a move to ban under-16s in the UK from social media platforms

Politics

5 d. ago Peter Andre opens up on disagreement with wife Emily over ban for children

Peter Andre has spoken out about his support for a social media ban for under-16s, admitting that he initially disagreed with his wife Emily over the issue

Politics

5 d. ago I research the harm of social media on teens. Here’s why I don’t support a ban

The UK government has launched a consultation on introducing an Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s

Politics

7 d. ago Government to issue statement on social media ban for under 16s after tens of thousands sign petition

The petition is calling for a total ban on social media use for under 16s

Politics

7 d. ago ‘My daughter is addicted to her phone – only a social media ban for under

The UK government has announced plans to consult on a social media ban for under-16s – but will it solve the problem? Nicole Wootton-Cane speaks to parents about whether they would support the measures

Politics

7 d. ago UK study to examine effects of restricting social media for children

Trial involving 4,000 children will explore impact on mental health, sleep and time spent with friends and familyA pioneering investigation into the impact of restricting social media access for children in the UK has been announced as politicians around the world consider action on the issue.In December, Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from social media, with governments in other countries – including the UK – under pressure to do the same. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago UK ministers launch consultation into whether to ban social media for under

Move comes as peers prepare to vote on an amendment to a bill that would enact a ban within a year of the bill passingMinisters have launched a consultation into whether to ban under-16s from using social media as part of a package of measures designed to curb mobile phone use among young people.Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, announced the consultation on Monday as the government responds to mounting pressure for stricter curbs on social media use for younger teenagers. On Monday afternoon, Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, became the latest high profile figure to add her name to those in support of a ban. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago UK ministers launch consultation on whether to ban social media for under

Move comes as peers prepare to vote on an amendment to a bill that would enact a ban within a year of the bill passingMinisters have launched a consultation into whether to ban under-16s from using social media as part of a package of measures designed to curb mobile phone use among young people.Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, announced the consultation on Monday as the government responds to mounting pressure for stricter curbs on social media use for younger teenagers. On Monday afternoon, Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, became the latest high profile figure to add her name to those in support of a ban. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Children in UK face social media ban, addictive app restrictions and tough Ofsted phone checks

Keir Starmer is ramping up action to tackle online harms amid mounting pressure to introduce a social media ban for under 16s after Australia did so last month

Politics

8 d. ago Mother of murdered Brianna Ghey piles fresh pressure on Keir Starmer to back a ban on under

Esther Ghey, whose daughter was killed at the age of 16 by two 15-year-olds, urged the Prime Minister to support the introduction of new restrictions.

Events

8 d. ago Starmer to consider all options on social media ban for under

The consultation is expected to look at all options for reform including a blanket ban

Politics

8 d. ago Starmer vows to 'do more' to protect children on social media as he faces mounting demands for under

Keir Starmer said 'no options are off the table' after dozens of Labour MPs wrote a letter calling for the UK to emulate Australia's ban on under-16s using sites and apps.

Politics

9 d. ago Molly Russell's father speaks out against social media ban for under

The father of a teenager who took her own life after being bombarded with harmful social media content has spoken out against banning under-16s from the platforms.

Politics

1 week ago More than 100,000 people urge MPs to ban social media for under

Letters sent using campaign group’s template as Keir Starmer indicates Australia-style move being consideredMPs’ inboxes have been flooded with letters calling for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s, as the prime minister indicated such a move was being considered.More than 100,000 people have contacted their local MP since the grassroots organisation Smartphone Free Childhood launched an email campaign on Tuesday evening with a template calling for “reasonable, age-appropriate boundaries”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study

UK study comes as ministers consider Australia’s ban on social media use for under-16sScreen time spent gaming or on social media does not cause mental health problems in teenagers, according to a large-scale study.With ministers in the UK considering whether to follow Australia’s example by banning social media use for under-16s, the findings challenge concerns that long periods spent gaming or scrolling TikTok or Instagram s driving an increase in teenagers’ depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer tells MPs he is open to social media ban for young people

PM says he is alarmed at reports about children’s screen time and has shifted position on Australian-style policyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has told MPs he is open to the idea of an Australian-style ban on social media for young people after becoming concerned about the amount of time children and teenagers are spending on their phones.The prime minister told Labour MPs on Monday evening he had become alarmed at reports about five-year-olds spending hours in front of screens each day, as well as increasingly worried about the damage social media is doing to under-16s. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Social media is corrupting young minds – but a ban is not the answer | Zoe Williams

Kicking under-16s off the social platforms is tempting, but it ignores the root of the problem: the older generations who made them so toxic in the first placeKemi Badenoch is evolving into one of those politicians who, whatever she says, it’s not just likely to be wrong, it’s likely to be the opposite of what’s right. She says Greenland is not a big deal (a “second-order issue” is how she described it to the BBC) – it is a big deal. She says net zero is too expensive – the opposite is true: net-anything-but-zero is a cost we can’t afford.But her promise to ban under-16s from using social media, echoing Australia’s recent move, is hard to write off completely; people across the spectrum, including Andy Burnham, agree with it. Nobody who has ever met a teenager, or read the news, will be completely at ease with the role of social media in young lives. There are horrific effects, which have been well documented and inadequately addressed ever since the death of 14-year-old Molly Russe...

Politics