Council urges Sir Keir Starmer to ban under-16s from social media as PM torn by 'powerful arguments'
A local authority has thrown its weight behind the government’s plans to clamp down on the dark side of social media.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to fast-track a new law about social media, which would crack down on things like AI chatbots and child access to platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
But the Prime Minister has not committed to banning under-16s from social media - a move already implemented on the other side of the world, in Australia.
Sir Keir said: “There are powerful arguments on both sides. Some people simply say just get all under-16s off social media, and that’s the end of it. NSPCC, obviously an organisation very concerned with children’s protection, says no, it’ll push children to even darker places.
“Others - I was with young people this morning, 15 and 16-year-olds who are actually going to be affected by this - they said to me, look we get our news from social media, we don’t read the papers, and therefore you’ll stop us accessing the news. We need to look at all of this in the round.”
Now, Fareham Borough Council has backed the initiative to ban teenagers from social media, as well as to outright ban schoolchildren from using mobile phones in school.
The motion, proposed by Cllr Frair Burgess and seconded by Cllr Paul Whittle, will be brought to the council on Friday, February 20.
It reads: There is increasing evidence of the potential for harm to children through unregulated access to social media and use of mobile ‘phones in school, compromising normal efforts of safe-guarding for children and young people.
“There is a growing expectation nationally that this should therefore be appropriately controlled. The council has a duty and corporate priority to promote and seek to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all people in Fareham.
“The council works with other authorities, agencies and government to determine as well as implement policies and legislation that can serve to meet the objectives of protecting the health, safety and well-being of residents and citizens.
“This council therefore supports raising of the age limitation for access to social media to 16 years old and a statutory ban on mobile phones in all school environments.”