Sir Keir Starmer has been hesitant to support a social media ban for under-16s because his own teenage children have benefited from using apps, the prime minister has told MPs.
Ministers ordered a three-month consultation this week into whether the government should ban social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok for under-16s as a Labour rebellion on the issue continues.
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The prime minister has long opposed the measure and is still minded to support a crackdown that falls short of a full ban if possible, according to government sources, but is open to the results of the consultation.
Starmer has told people that he has been reluctant to support an Australian-style ban because he thinks social media has had added educational and social value for his two teenage children, according to six MPs.
He has said his son and daughter have used social media to find valuable learning tools, while also allowing them to stay connected to friends. His teenage daughter could be stopped from using social media if a full ban is implemented by his government.
However, Labour MPs who support a full social media ban have been critical of Starmer using his children’s subjective experiences to guide his policymaking.
“His experiences are unique compared to the rest of the population. He’s middle class and there are a lot of protections in place for his family,” one said.
“It’s important when you are elected that you mustn’t generalise and are led by evidence.”
Ministers supporting a social media ban for young children say it would shield them from harmful content
CHRISTY MCLOUGHLIN/GETTY
Another said: “Parents have very different perspectives on this depending on the age of their children, and that clearly applies to Keir too.”
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, told Sky News: “I think there is a strong case for a ban … we should take a second look at the sort of environment that we let our children grow up in. That is the nation’s business. But where the enforcement lies, I think, is a question for the consultation.
“Of course, I wouldn’t want the police to be in a position where we have a law that is either impossible to enforce or is so costly to enforce that it means they can’t go after ordinary crimes.”
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The Conservatives are set to use their regular opposition day debate to force a vote in the Commons on a social media ban on Wednesday.
Bereaved parents have sent a letter to Starmer calling on him to back a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools. The group is led by Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers who had been exposed to violent content online.
She said: “A consultation is not action, it is a delay, and while we wait, parents and teachers continue to struggle to protect young people, and children are being harmed.”
Esther Ghey met with the prime minister in her campaign for a social media ban for under-16s. Her daughter, Brianna, was murdered by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, who searched online for ways to kill before the murder
LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES
A government official said: “We’ve been clear — we will take action to make sure children have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media.
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“This is a complex issue with no common consensus and it’s important we get this right. That’s why we are launching a consultation to seek views from experts, parents and young people to ensure we take the best approach, based on the latest evidence.”