Mother of Murdered Teenager Demands Urgent Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey who was murdered in 2023, has issued a powerful call for the UK government to "move now" and implement a ban on social media access for children under 16. Speaking to the Guardian's Politics Weekly podcast, Ghey expressed deep concern that the government's planned consultation on the matter represents "kicking the can down the road" while more children are being harmed.
The Case for Immediate Action
Ghey has previously detailed how she believes her daughter's social media addiction contributed to significant mental health issues, which in turn led Brianna to take risks with her personal safety. "We've already had enough discussions and consultations and we know the evidence now," Ghey stated emphatically. She highlighted alarming statistics, noting that in England alone, there are 500 mental health referrals for children each day.
The grieving mother connected this crisis directly to social media's influence, questioning: "Why is there such an increase in mental health issues, why is there an increase in peer violence in schools, why is there a difficulty retaining teachers?" Her plea is grounded in the belief that waiting for consultation results later this year will only allow more young people to suffer.
Political Landscape and Upcoming Vote
Ghey's intervention comes as MPs prepare to vote on an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill proposed by Lord John Nash. This amendment would enact a social media ban for under-16s within 12 months of the bill passing. The political situation is complex:
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a consultation due to report in summer, attempting to address potential Labour rebellion
- Starmer has expressed openness to a ban but has reservations about implementation and potential unintended consequences
- More than 60 Labour MPs recently signed a letter calling for a ban, though some now suggest allowing the consultation to complete
Cabinet Concerns and Alternative Perspectives
The government's hesitation is shared by several cabinet members, including Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. Their concerns echo those expressed by Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell who took her own life at 14 after exposure to harmful social media content.
Russell cautioned: "We're in danger of trying to move too fast and trying to find quick-fix solutions. If there were quick-fix solutions, honestly, we would have found them." This perspective highlights the tension between urgent action demanded by grieving families and concerns about practical implementation and potential unintended consequences, such as driving children toward the dark web.
The Path Forward
MP Fred Thomas, who organized the parliamentary letter calling for a ban, has suggested a compromise approach: "I would welcome a government amendment enabling the UK to remove access to social media for under-16s through secondary legislation, based on consultation."
The issue will reach a critical point when MPs debate the Lords' amendments to the children's wellbeing and schools bill. As Esther Ghey powerfully argues, the fundamental question remains whether the government will prioritize immediate protective action or continue with what she perceives as dangerous delay while children's mental health continues to deteriorate.
