The father of Molly Russell, who took her own life at age 14 after exposure to harmful online content, has cautioned that the government's proposed ban on social media for under-16s is being 'rushed'. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the measure on Monday, following Australia's lead, just weeks after a consultation ended with over 110,000 responses.
Ian Russell's Dismay
Ian Russell, founder of the Molly Rose Foundation in his daughter's memory, expressed dismay at the impending announcement. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said: 'In opposition, Keir Starmer promised to tighten up the online safety world by regulating better. Early last year, I met with him briefly and he was very concerned, promising to look into effective solutions. Everything is changing, all the time.'
He added: 'If he's playing politics, what he's doing is gambling with young people's lives. And I find that deplorable.'
Government Response
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy responded, respectfully disagreeing with some of Mr Russell's comments. She stated: 'There is no one solution to this and there has to be a basket of measures. There is an urgency because young people need help now. The tech companies have had enough time to get their house in order. If they're not prepared to do it, they lose the right to market their products towards children.'
Public Opinion Split
A new poll by the Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank reveals a divided public: 44% support a ban, while 39% prefer tighter regulation. However, among parents with children under 16, 54% back a ban compared to 36% favouring regulation.
Mr Russell pointed to research by his foundation showing that the Online Safety Act has only slightly reduced the number of children seeing harmful content online.
Support for Ban
Esther Ghey, mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, argued in favour of a ban. She told Metro: 'This calls for strong leadership from Keir Starmer. We are talking about children. The longer we delay, the more lives will be lost.'
Political Pressure
The government has faced mounting pressure to restrict under-16s' social media access since Australia enforced its ban in December 2025. Peers in the House of Lords voted twice to include the measure in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, leading to a compromise promising 'some form of age or functionality restrictions'. Reports suggest the UK may follow Australia in allowing curated platforms like YouTube Kids while blocking others.
