On Monday evening, MPs rejected an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that called for a ban on social media for under-16s by 307 to 173 votes, according to Daily Mirror - Politics. The amendment had previously been passed by the House of Lords. The government has instead launched a consultation on keeping children safe online, with a ban among the options being considered.
Parental advocacy and personal tragedies are driving the campaign for stricter social media regulations. Lauren Cowell, who discovered her 12-year-old son Eric had downloaded Snapchat on her phone during a car ride, has joined the Raise the Age campaign which wants to introduce a minimum age of 16 to access social media. She and her husband Simon Cowell have been phone-free for eight years. Ellen Roome's 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in unclear circumstances in 2022, and she believes his death is linked to online harms. Esther Ghey's daughter Brianna was murdered in 2023, and she believes Brianna's social media addiction impacted her mental health.
For families like mine, this is not a theoretical debate. My 14-year-old son Jools died in 2022, and since then I have met many other parents whose children have also been harmed through social media platforms.
Political pressure has mounted from bereaved parents and unions following the parliamentary vote. Twenty-three bereaved parents have signed an open letter criticizing Labour leader Keir Starmer for not voting for the social media ban. The National Education Union expressed disappointment over the vote against a ban.
The government opposes the amendment for an immediate ban and instead proposes a consultation to gather evidence first. The exact terms and potential outcomes of this consultation remain unclear, including what alternative measures such as social media curfews or screen time restrictions might be considered. Enforcement mechanisms for any potential ban also remain unspecified.
We know the risks are real, and we know the current protections are not enough. What we are asking for is simple: meaningful action that puts children’s safety ahead of the interests of tech companies. A consultation is not the same as protection, and while we continue to delay, more children remain exposed to harm.
Personal stories illustrate the depth of parental concerns about children's social media use. Lauren Cowell described initially knowing nothing about how Snapchat worked but becoming increasingly alarmed as she learned more. The number of children harmed or killed due to social media in the UK according to official records is not specified, and what specific evidence Ellen Roome hopes to obtain from TikTok regarding her son's death remains unknown.
Children on social media, including gaming platforms are currently being exploited, radicalised, and harmed emotionally and physically, and in the most tragic cases, young lives are being lost. Brianna was one of these children.
Parents across the country are crying out for help as they watch the devastating impact these platforms can have on young people. We cannot afford more delay while the damage continues every single day.