Keir Starmer

The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear.

Thousands of parents say their children are addicted to social media.

It can leave them trapped in a cycle of endless scrolling that displaces play, sleep, and time with the family.

It can harm their mental health.

And frankly, parents need our support on this.

That is why today the government has decided to ban social media access for children under 16.

And it's fair to say that this decision has been resisted and it will face resistance from some of the most powerful companies in the world.

But we will take them on and we will win.

Because the need for action could not be any clearer.

Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe.

The response from parents in the consultation has been absolutely clear.

I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children.

And that is why this ban must happen.

And that is why this ban will happen.

And meanwhile, in the UK... Today, I can announce that the government will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16.

Social media is making children unhappy.

It's making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them.

and it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that's what grabs the attention.

It's designed to be addictive.

Of course it is.