We are banning social media access for under 16s. These days kids must find their feet in a world where technology intrudes into every area of their life. I just can’t let that go on anymore. So we’re giving children their childhoods back.

We are banning social media access for under 16s. These days kids must find their feet in a world where technology intrudes into every area of their life. I just can’t let that go on anymore. So we’re giving children their childhoods back.

Lauren Edwards MP statement says “[The TIA bill] was rightly described as the safest and most robust assisted dying law anywhere in the world” No. It was only described this way by the people trying to push it through. Here is how others described the Bill: 1. The Royal College of Physicians said the Bill is unsafe 2. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the Bill is unworkable, and unsafe 3. The British Geriatrics Society said the Bill’s safeguards are not adequate 4. Domestic abuse charities said the Bill is unsafe 5. Organisations representing disabled people said the Bill is unsafe 6. Royal College of GPs says the Bill lacks adequate safeguards 7. Lord Stevens, ex NHS CEO, said legislating for assisted dying in the current climate of hospice cuts is “utterly ridiculous” 8. MIND says the safeguards are not adequate 9. The CLADD group at KCL (DOI) have said the Bill is “not fit for purpose” 10. The British Association of Social Workers say the Bill’s is not safe enough Spot the pattern?

Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs said: "We must stop judging new legislation by the good intentions of its advocates rather than its likely consequences. We know from Australia that most teenagers will get around the ban and that those who are not able to do so will suffer from social isolation. There are legitimate concerns about screen addiction among both children and adults, but parents are already able to restrict what their children see online and limit the number of hours they can use a smartphone. These guardrails are removed when kids log in via VPNs or sign up to platforms as adults. What the government is trying to do is reminiscent of attempts to ban the printing press. It is similarly impractical, illiberal and ultimately undesirable."

BREAKING: Keir Starmer confirms that the government will introduce a full ban on social media for under 16s. “Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy. It's making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health,” he says. “Other children exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that's what grabs the attention. “It's designed to be addictive, of course it is. Features like the infinite scroll, they're designed to lock you in for hours. “If nothing else, there's an opportunity cost to that. It stops children doing their homework, reading, playing with their friends outside, going to bed at decent hour. “Now may not sound like much, but these are the activities that help a child develop into an adult.”

It is fantastic news that the Government has finally woken up to the dangers of social media for young people. This is an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children. Huge credit goes to @LauraTrottMP and my Shadow Cabinet for relentlessly fighting for this. Conservatives welcome this latest Labour U-turn, and will continue to work for the best implementation of the policy.

Keir Starmer today announced a full social media ban for under-16s. He openly acknowledged that enforcing it will be “hard”, yet he is still going ahead with it anyway. As someone who used to be a lawyer, you’d expect him to understand the difference between a law that looks good on paper and one that can actually be enforced without turning into a massive, expensive, easily-circumvented mess. Kids will just use VPNs, their parents’ accounts, or unregulated alternatives. Calling this good lawmaking is generous. Terrible lawyer, even worse policymaker.

Terrifying. @UKLabour isn't even hiding it's authoritarianism It KNOWS it's toast and will be out of office for a generation. This is desperate stuff

'Social media is making children unhappy.' PM Sir Keir Starmer speaks in Downing Street, as he announces a social media ban for under-16s 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube