The Australia effect hits the UK as more people join call to ban social media for under-16s
- Marijan Hassan - Tech Journalist
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Over 100,000 emails flood MPs' Inboxes as Starmer shifts stance and opposition parties push for radical safeguards.
Pressure is reaching a fever pitch in Westminster, UK, as a massive grassroots campaign, supported by cross-party political leaders and major unions, demands that the country follow Australia’s lead and ban social media for children under the age of 16. The movement, which gained explosive momentum this week, has forced Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon his previous opposition to a blanket ban, with Downing Street now confirming that "all options are on the table."
The surge in public demand was triggered by the grassroots group Smartphone Free Childhood, which launched an automated email campaign on Tuesday. By Thursday, January 15, 2026, more than 100,000 letters had been delivered to MPs, with some reporting over 1,000 emails from concerned constituents in a single day.
A rare moment of bipartisan unity
The call for a ban has created an unusual alliance between the Labour government’s front bench and the Conservative opposition.
Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch announced that the Conservatives would implement a mandatory ban for under-16s if they win the next election, arguing that "Freedom is for adults" and that addictive algorithms are "poisoning" childhood.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Starmer, who previously argued that a ban would be "difficult to police," has shifted his tone. He recently told reporters he is "open to legislation" and is watching the Australian model "with interest," citing specific concerns about screen time "addling the developing minds" of children as young as four.
High-profile figures, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and the Muslim Council of Britain, have all publicly backed the 16-year age limit.
The upcoming 'high-stakes' vote
The debate is expected to come to a head next week when the House of Lords votes on a critical amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
If passed, this amendment would introduce a legal requirement for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat to verify the age of their users and block access to those under 16. Downing Street has hinted it may not block the amendment, signaling a potential fast-track to a binding vote in the House of Commons within months.
Experts divided
Despite the overwhelming political and public support, some of the UK’s leading child safety advocates are sounding the alarm about "unintended consequences."
Ian Russell, the father of Molly Russell (whose 2017 death was linked to harmful social media content), has emerged as a vocal critic of a blanket ban. He describes the move as a "sledgehammer technique" that will drive children toward the dark web and unregulated spaces.
The Molly Rose Foundation, NSPCC, and Childnet also issued a joint statement arguing that a ban is the "wrong solution." The charity organizations contend that the government should instead focus on robustly enforcing the Online Safety Act (OSA) to force tech firms to make their actual platforms safer, rather than simply kicking children off them.
The tech perspective
Industry body techUK warned that a ban could "proliferate harms in practice" by removing children from the protective oversight of regulated platforms and parental monitoring tools.
Looking Forward
As of mid-January 2026, the UK government's official policy remains focused on the Online Safety Act, but the "Australia-style" ban has moved from a fringe idea to the very center of the British legislative agenda.
