On Monday evening, MPs rejected a proposal for a ban on social media for under-16s by 307 to 173 votes. The amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, tabled by Lord Nash and passed by the House of Lords, called for such a prohibition. This vote came as 23 bereaved parents whose children lost their lives due to social media urged MPs to back an immediate ban.
The government has launched a consultation on keeping kids safe online, with a ban on social media for under-16s among the options. However, the government opposes the amendment calling for an Australia-style ban, saying it will first gather evidence. The government's proposed amendment would give ministers authority to impose social media curfews or restrict screen time after a consultation.
I don't have any other children to save. This isn't about saving my children, this is about making a difference for other children and I am so determined that we are not going to fail, that we are going to change the law and we're going to protect more children.
Bereaved parents have publicly connected their children's deaths to social media harms. Ellen Roome's 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in unclear circumstances in 2022. Ellen Roome believes her son's death is linked to online harms. Esther Ghey's daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers in 2023. Esther Ghey believes Brianna's social media addiction had a devastating impact on her mental health, which led to her taking risks with her personal safety.
Families are pursuing legal actions and campaigns to push for change. Ellen Roome is suing TikTok with other British families over their children’s deaths. Lauren Cowell discovered her 12-year-old son Eric had downloaded Snapchat on her phone during a school run. She has joined the Raise the Age campaign, which wants to introduce a minimum age of 16 for accessing social media.
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. 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.
Reactions to the parliamentary vote have highlighted its implications. The National Education Union expressed disappointment over the vote on a ban on social media for under-16s. The union emphasized the need for stronger protections for children online, citing concerns about mental health impacts and safety risks. Meanwhile, supporters of the ban argue that immediate action is necessary to prevent further tragedies, while opponents caution against rushed legislation without proper evidence.
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.