Keir Starmer is gearing up for yet another U turn as his Labour Government edges towards backing a ban that could kick under 16s off social media.
The Prime Minister had spent months warning that copying Australia’s hardline age limits would simply drive teenagers to shadier corners of the internet, but has now quietly climbed down.
Downing Street insiders say Starmer is prepared to back legislation that would force tech giants to bar children from TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X, a move critics say smacks of political panic rather than principle.
Speaking this week, a cautious Sir Keir said, “We need to better protect children from social media. We’re looking at what’s happening in Australia, but all options are on the table.”
No 10 has also signalled that Starmer will not block a Conservative amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill next week that would introduce an Australian style ban, sparking accusations that Labour is letting the Tories set the agenda.
One policy source close to the PM admitted the pressure was irresistible, saying, “This has clearly become a live issue for No 10. If there was a free vote tomorrow, 70 per cent of MPs would back it. It would be very popular with the public.”
The sudden shift leaves Labour looking outflanked after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch pledged last weekend that the Conservatives would block under 16s from social media if they win the next election.
Her stance was backed by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, widely seen as a possible future challenger to Starmer, underlining the growing unease within Labour ranks.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, another potential leadership contender, has also broken ranks by saying he is “in favour of action”, admitting social media was “unleashed without properly understanding the consequences”.
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pushed through a world first law last year banning under 16s from major platforms, with companies facing fines of up to A$49.5m, around £25m, for serious breaches.
If the Tory amendment clears the House of Lords next week, it will head to the Commons, where Starmer could face a backbench revolt if he tries to water it down.
Ministers are meanwhile scrambling for softer alternatives to save face. One option being floated is cracking down on VPNs used by children to dodge age checks by disguising their location.
Former science secretary Peter Kyle has previously dismissed the idea, but some Labour MPs are now warming to it.
Luke Charters, the Labour MP for York Outer, said, “I’m a parent first and a politician second. Age verification exists for a reason, so it’s totally right we look at banning VPNs that let under 16s get around blocks.”
Even that would fall well short of a full ban, and a government consultation on children’s social media use is expected to be launched on Monday, a move critics say is more delay than action.
Pressure group Smartphone Free Childhood claims it has sent 100,000 letters to MPs demanding a ban, a sign of how badly Labour is misreading public mood.
Starmer’s tough talk also sits awkwardly with Labour’s recent appointments. Josh MacAlister, a supporter of banning phones in schools, has been promoted to children’s minister, while Gregor Poynton, another backer of Australian style rules, is now assistant chief whip.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is said to be more hawkish than her predecessor, deepening tensions inside government.
Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s counter terrorism tsar, has warned that a ban could help stop teenagers being radicalised online, adding another headache for the PM.
Under Australia’s regime, social media firms must take “reasonable steps” to keep children off their platforms, using tools such as ID checks, facial or voice recognition and so called age inference.
Yet the idea of a blanket ban is being fiercely opposed by the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, set up after 14 year old Molly Russell took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful online content.
Molly’s father Ian campaigns for tougher protections, but foundation chief Andy Burrows warned a total ban could “cause more harm than good”.
Starmer himself admitted in December that he “personally” opposed a blanket ban, saying it was better to control what children see rather than shut them out altogether, a position he now appears to have abandoned.
Meanwhile in Australia, teenagers are already using VPN technology to skirt the rules by making their devices appear to be in countries without bans.
Australia’s communications minister Anika Wells defended the crackdown, branding social media a “dopamine drip” and “behavioural cocaine”.
With Labour once again accused of dithering, and the Tories stealing the spotlight, Britain looks set for a bruising battle over children, screens and Starmer’s credibility.
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