The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has made a direct plea to the Prime Minister and other political leaders to back a ban on social media access for all children under the age of 16. Esther Ghey is campaigning for the measure, arguing it is a crucial step to shield young people from the severe online harms she believes contributed to her daughter's struggles.
A Mother's Campaign Rooted in Personal Tragedy
Esther Ghey has spoken publicly about how damaging online content profoundly affected her daughter Brianna before her death. She highlights that exposure to harmful material on social media platforms exacerbated Brianna's existing battles with an eating disorder and incidents of self-harm. Ms Ghey contends that a blanket prohibition for under-16s is vital to prevent other children from facing similar addictive and destructive online experiences.
Parliamentary Debate and Divided Expert Opinion
This week, the House of Lords is set to debate a significant amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Tabled for Tuesday 20 January 2026, this amendment seeks to legally compel social media companies to prevent anyone under 16 from creating accounts on their platforms. The proposal has garnered notable support, including from the National Education Union and a group of 61 Labour MPs.
However, the call for a ban faces opposition from a coalition of 42 child protection charities and online safety groups. These organisations have warned that an outright ban addresses symptoms rather than root causes. They advocate instead for strengthening the existing Online Safety Act to enforce more robust and effective age verification measures, arguing this approach tackles platform design and corporate responsibility directly.
Alternative Proposals and Political Stances
Amidst the debate, alternative solutions have been put forward. The Liberal Democrats, led by Sir Ed Davey, have proposed implementing film-style age ratings for social media platforms. Under this 'smart approach', some platforms could be legally restricted to users aged 16 and over, aiming to balance the benefits of digital connectivity with tangible harm reduction. This policy reflects a middle ground in the complex discussion about protecting young people online while acknowledging the internet's role in modern childhood.
The issue has moved beyond Westminster, sparking a national conversation about smartphone use in schools. Esther Ghey is also actively campaigning for a ban on smartphones within the school environment, a measure some educational institutions are already adopting independently.
