Bereaved parents demand Starmer backs under-16 social media ban NOW

Keir Starmer today came under renewed pressure from bereaved parents to bring in an immediate ban on under-16s using social media.

The Prime Minister was warned 500 children are referred for mental health treatment every day, as ministers try to delay a crackdown on youngsters' mobile phones. 

Last week peers amended a new law to force the PM to bring in an immediate ban on under-16s from using apps like Tik-Tok and Snapchat.

MPs are likely to reject the change in the Commons after ministers hinted that a ban could be in place by the summer, following a three-month consultation that began earlier this month.

However, Esther Ghey whose daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers, told the BBC today: 'Whilst we're waiting more and more children are being harmed.

'We know that every single day 500 children are being referred to mental health services, and we know that 97 per cent of 12-year-olds own smartphones, so we need to do something now.'

Ms Ghey has previously said her daughter had a 'social media addiction' and 'desperately wanted to be TikTok famous', putting her 'in constant fear about who might be speaking to online'.

She appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg alongside Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge.

They are calling on ministers to ban smartphones from schools, warning almost four in five have a policy that they must only be 'out of sight'.

In a letter to the PM Mrs Ghey said Brianna's former school saw incidents linked to phone and social media fall by 94 per cent in a year after it brought in a total ban.

Mrs Roome added: How much longer are we going to let children have unregulated access? 

'They’ve got access to everything, and I just really think it needs to go. Those children are being harmed.'

The back Conservative demands for a social media ban.

Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said: 'Last week, members of the House of Lords voted to support our amendment to get children off social media. It was deeply disappointing that Labour could not bring themselves to support this measure.

'Bereaved parents and campaigners are right to call this out. They are crying out for politicians to act, not to kick the can down the road. We do not need more evidence, and we do not need to wait months or years when legislation is there for us to enact now.'

Supporters of the Australian-style ban have argued parents are in 'an impossible position' with regard to the online harms their children are being exposed to.

Two-thirds of Britons support a ban, polling revealed last week, with majorities in favour of new age restrictions on social media across Britain's major political parties.

The Government will look at restricting access to sites and apps for under-16s as the Prime Minister attempts to see off another backbench rebellion.

A group of 61 Labour MPs last week wrote to Sir Keir to demand 'urgent action' to raise the minimum age for social media platforms.