The mother of a murdered teenager has made a direct appeal to the Prime Minister and other political leaders to support a proposed ban on social media access for children under the age of 16.
A Mother's Plea for Protection
Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two other teenagers in 2023, has written to party leaders Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Ed Davey. She argues that such a ban would be "a vital step in protecting children online".
In her letter, Ms Ghey revealed that her daughter had struggled with a "social media addiction" and had "desperately wanted to be TikTok famous". This, she said, left the family in constant fear about who Brianna was communicating with on digital platforms.
"She developed an eating disorder and was self-harming, and all of this was significantly exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online," Ms Ghey stated.
Political Debate and Opposition
Her intervention comes as the House of Lords is expected to debate an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill later this week. The proposed change would legally require social media companies to prevent children under 16 from using their platforms.
The amendment has already garnered significant support, including from the National Education Union (NEU) and 61 Labour MPs, who have written to the Prime Minister demanding "urgent action". NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede described the moment as "pivotal" and urged Sir Keir to show leadership by backing the ban.
However, at a press conference on Monday 19 January 2026, Sir Keir stopped short of committing to the policy. He stated the Government was "looking at a range of options" and that "no options are off the table". He added he had discussed the issue with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose government implemented a similar ban last year.
Charities Warn Against Blanket Ban
Ms Ghey said she speaks "alongside many other bereaved parents who have lost their children to harms that began or were amplified online". She urged leaders to act, saying: "No parent should have to live with the consequences of a system that failed to protect their child."
In contrast, a coalition of 42 child protection charities and online safety groups issued a joint statement over the weekend warning that a blanket ban would not deliver the necessary improvements in child safety. They argued it would treat "the symptoms, not the problem".
Instead, these organisations advocate for strengthening the Online Safety Act to force platforms to robustly enforce existing, risk-based age limits.
Baroness Hilary Cass, a paediatrician in the Lords, said she understood the charities' view but believed it was better to "start on presumption of ban and only allow apps that have been developed safely". She told the Press Association that relying on US tech giants to comply with safety requirements had "just not been adequate" so far.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have proposed an alternative: film-style age ratings for social media platforms, with some legally restricted to users over 16. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said this was "a smart approach" that allows young people to benefit from social media while tackling its harms.
Responding to this proposal in the Commons, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Government would "look carefully at any sensible proposals" to ensure children's safety online.
