Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers in 2023, has pleaded with MPs to vote for an amendment in the Commons banning social media for under 16s
The mum of a teenager who was murdered in a horrific attack has pleaded with MPs to outlaw social media for under-16s today.
An amendment calling for an Australia-style ban on apps like TikTok and Instagram will be put before the Commons. But the Government opposes the measure, saying it will first gather evidence before concrete proposals are put forward.
Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was killed in 2023, said on Sunday: “Children on social media, including gaming platforms are currently being exploited, radicalised, and harmed emotionally and physically, and in the most tragic cases, young lives are being lost. Brianna was one of these children.
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“Parents across the country are crying out for help as they watch the devastating impact these platforms can have on young people. We cannot afford more delay while the damage continues every single day.”
She believes Brianna’s social media addiction had a devastating impact on her mental health, which led to her to take risks with her personal safety. The 16-year-old was stabbed to death by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe after being lured into Culcheth Linear Park in Cheshire.
An amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, tabled by Lord Nash, was passed by the House of Lords calling for a ban. Lord Nash, a former Tory schools minister, said: “MPs must make a choice today. Health professionals, senior police officers, members of our intelligence community, teachers and parents have all said the same thing: the evidence is clear, and the age limit for harmful social media platforms must be raised to 16.”
The Government last week launched a consultation on keeping kids safe online. A ban on social media for under-16s – similar to one Australia brought in last December – is among the options being weighed up.
Launching the consultation, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said last week: “We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.
“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.”
A Government spokeswoman said last night(SUN): “We’ve been clear that we will take action to make sure children have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media. As the Technology Secretary has stressed, this isn’t a question of whether, but how we will act.
“This is a complex issue with no single right answer. That’s why we have launched a consultation looking at everything from age limits and safer design features to a social media ban – to seek views from experts, parents and young people to ensure we take the best approach, based on the latest evidence.”