EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham – who is expected to take over from Keir Starmer – will press ahead with a social media ban for under 16s as he sees it as a ‘critical first step’ to keeping kids safe online
Andy Burnham will press ahead with a social media ban for under 16s as he sees it as a “critical first step” to keeping children safe online.
The ex-Greater Manchester mayor, who is widely expected to become Prime Minister on July 20, wants the measure to be delivered with “urgency”. He has already spoken to Technology Secretary Liz Kendall about the online safety plans and hopes to drive cross-party support on the issue.
A spokeswoman for Mr Burnham told The Mirror: “Andy is committed to keeping kids safe online, and has been vocal in his support of age restrictions for kids using social media.
“He knows this ban is a critical first step to keeping kids safe online and preventing further tragedies for families. The task now is to build on the consensus across political parties to make sure it’s enforced in full, and delivered with the urgency this issue demands.”
Mr Burnham threw his weight behind Kemi Badenoch’s calls for a social media ban in January. But his position has not been confirmed since Keir Starmer announced one last month.
Ms Kendall told The Mirror she has “no doubt” the Makerfield MP will see through her plans, adding: “I think Andy’s passionate about giving kids the best start in life and protecting kids online, and he wants to make sure that children get those protections.”
She would not disclose the details of her talks with Mr Burnham but added: “I have spoken to him about it. He wants to have those measures in place.”
Mr Starmer and Ms Kendall unveiled a social media ban for under 16s last month in a landmark move to shore up their legacy on protecting kids online. The Australia-style ban is expected to apply to all the largest social media sites, including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
But the PM’s resignation just weeks later cast doubt over its implementation in early 2027.
Ms Kendall has confirmed further planned measures that are likely to include overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for teens aged 16- to 17-year-olds will still go ahead later this month.
She told The Mirror the social media ban will be a “big reset moment” but that the fast pace of tech’s evolution means the issue is not “one and done”.
She said: “I’m strongly minded, as I said during my statement, that overnight curfews being sort of on as default for 16 and 17 year olds, breaks in infinite scrolling as well for 16 and 17 year olds, I think that’s very, very important.
“We’re looking at a whole range of other things. We’ll say more before the house breaks for the summer, but I’d also just say to you and Mirror readers, this technology is just continually changing and this is not one and done. I believe that the ban on social media companies providing their services to children 16 is a big reset moment.”
Sources said officials at the department for science, innovation and technology will spend the summer “motoring” onwards to meet a tight timetable to introduce a ban.
Ms Kendall has said she wants MPs to have a vote on the legislation introducing the measure by the end of the year.
Powers under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act allow the Government to introduce new online safety measures without the need for fresh primary legislation. Instead a much faster law-making method – known as a statutory instrument (SI) – will be used, with a 40-day fixed time period for it to be passed.
Officials are now racing to ensure the SI is watertight so it can’t be challenged legally.
Media regulator Ofcom has been given an October deadline to come forward with information on what constitutes highly effective age assurance methods. Ms Kendall has asked it to ensure methods are accessible so that, for example, adults who don’t have a passport or driving licence can verify their age easily to access social media.
Some campaigners, including the Molly Rose Foundation, are against a ban and have urged Mr Burnham to be “bolder” in addressing the design features of social media platforms. They warn a ban could bring a false sense of safety, with kids pushed into darker spaces online and facing a cliff edge at age 16.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of MRF, said: “Keir Starmer rushed into announcing a social media ban without a clear plan to implement it and it’s now up to Andy Burnham to sort out a meaningful strategy.
“A Burnham Government will need to be clear headed about the likely impacts and limitations of a ban, and that means setting regulatory incentives that are up to the task and prioritising safety-by-design regulation across the stack, from social media to AI.
“Andy Burnham has shown a strong interest in online safety and he will know that most parents want decisive and tangible action, not false promises or half-baked measures that deliver performative headlines over concrete change.”