More than 60 Labour MPs urge PM to ban social media for under-16s

"Getty Images More than 60 Labour MPs have called on the prime minister to impose a ban on under-16s access to social media platforms. In a open letter to Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday, the 61 MPs said "successive governments" had done "too little to protect young people from... unregulated, addictive social media platforms". They urged him to follow the example of Australia, which brought in a ban in December. Several other countries are said to be considering similar laws."

"The letter, which includes the signatures of a number of committee chairs and former frontbenchers, said many constituents had contacted the MPs to express concerns about the effects of social media on young people. It read: "Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood.""

Sixty-one Labour MPs have called on the prime minister to ban under-16s from social media, citing unregulated, addictive platforms and pointing to Australia’s December ban as precedent. The MPs said constituents report children are anxious, unhappy, distracted from learning, and failing to build necessary social skills for adulthood. The call includes signatures from committee chairs and former frontbenchers and warns that Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece may follow Australia, risking the UK being left behind. Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out a ban, and the House of Lords will vote on age-rating restrictions.

Read at www.bbc.com