Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes Labour government's U-turn on banning social media for under-16s

Young Money-Makers Shut Down? Parents Say Social Media Ban Will Destroy Young Entrepreneurs and Influencers

Parents of young creators have warned that the UK's planned social media ban for under-16s could affect a new generation of young entrepreneurs and influencers who use platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to build skills, audiences, and income. The concerns emerged after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans on 19 June 2026 to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16. The government has argued that stronge…

Sinn Féin says under-16 ban may drive teens to 'darker, unregulated, corners of the internet'

After Keir Starmer announced his plans to implement a ban, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris said the government is considering doing the same.

Will the under-16s social media ban work?

It’s funny what the pressure of a ticking clock can do to a prime minister, said Hannah Barnes in The New Statesman. Just a few months ago, when more than 60 Labour MPs signed an open letter calling for a social media ban for under-16s, Keir Starmer wasn’t convinced. His own teenage children, he told MPs, had benefitted from using social media. But with a leadership challenge looming, the panicking PM has suddenly “latched” on to this popular po…

‘Ireland should look at following UK on social media ban for under-16s – before our children are completely overwhelmed,’ says Mary McAleese

Former president made the comments during a discussion The Future of Justice in an Age of Uncertainty at TCD

Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes Labour government's U-turn on banning social media for under-16s

Havant MP Alan Mak has welcomed the Labour government's U-turn on banning social media for under-16s.

‘Social media is toxic for children’: Father of murdered Reading teen backs social media ban for under-16s

The father of a teenage son who was murdered in Reading has welcomed government plans to ban social media for children. Stuart Stephens has been campaigning for online safety for children since his son Olly was killed in January 2021. Olly was stabbed to death aged 13 at Bugs Bottom by two teenage boys, after being lured to the park by a teen girl. Court hearings established that Olly was killed due to a dispute on social media. Mr Stephens, alo…