The Molly Rose Foundation has cautioned that a rushed ban on social media for under-16s in the UK could quickly fall apart, leaving families to bear the consequences. The warning follows reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce restrictions on young people accessing harmful platforms, though the specific apps affected have not yet been confirmed.
The charity, founded in memory of Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing harmful online content, argued that such a ban would not make children safer. It said young people would likely circumvent age checks and migrate to less regulated spaces such as gaming. Andy Burrows, the foundation's chief executive, said the move was not supported by evidence and would 'quickly unravel'. He added that parents want decisive action that works, and that prioritising short-term announcements over expert advice would be a step backwards for child protection.
The Times reported that the government may announce the ban before the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, where Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is standing for Labour. A consultation on children's online safety, which explored the possibility of a ban, closed only last week. The UK approach would differ from Australia's blanket ban, which covers platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and Snapchat, as ministers consider a more selective policy.
The government is also reviewing other measures, including age restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling and limits on AI chatbots. The Molly Rose Foundation has instead proposed strict safety standards for apps, including curbs on personalised algorithms, with bans only if platforms fail to comply. Crossbench peer Beeban Kidron dismissed the reported plan as a 'non-ban ban' and accused ministers of being soft on tech, pointing to the recent three-month deadline given to Apple and Google over anti-nudity software.
Labour MP Fred Thomas, who organised a letter from over 60 colleagues urging a ban, said the evidence supported bold action. However, some in the party have expressed frustration, with one MP saying the government should 'get on with it' rather than repeatedly delaying. A government spokesperson said ministers were 'determined to act quickly' but in a way that is effective, enforceable, and genuinely keeps children safe.
