Rayner urges Starmer to ban social media for under-16s as labour splits over Australian model

Angela Rayner urged Keir Starmer to implement a blanket ban on social media access for children under 16, saying the case had become clear and further delay was indefensible. The call comes as a UK government consultation on an Australian-style ban is due to close, with Whitehall weighing options. Restrictions would require major changes to age-assurance technology, advertising targeting, and content moderation, creating disproportionate costs for small and medium-sized businesses that rely on social platforms for marketing and sales. Labour figures are divided, with some preferring functional regulation rather than a hard age cutoff. Evidence from Australia suggests many under-16s ignore or bypass bans, raising doubts about effectiveness.

"Angela Rayner has broken cover to urge Sir Keir Starmer to push ahead with a blanket ban on social media for children under the age of 16, intensifying pressure on a prime minister already wrestling with one of the most politically charged decisions of his premiership."

"For Britain's small and medium-sized businesses - particularly the legions of owner-managers who have come to depend on social platforms as their shop window, sales channel and marketing department rolled into one - the stakes could scarcely be higher. Any move to restrict access for under-16s would force a wholesale rethink of age-assurance technology, advertising targeting and content moderation, with costs that will land disproportionately on smaller operators."

"Although Westminster speculation is mounting that Sir Keir will eventually back a full ban as a piece of "low-hanging political fruit", Labour is visibly divided over the proposal. Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, are both said to have cooled on a blanket prohibition, favouring tougher functional regulation over a hard age cut-off."

"Five separate studies have suggested that at least 60 per cent of Australian children aged under 16 are either ignoring the ban outright or have already found ways around it. Data published by the Australian regulator confirm"

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