Parents demand ’emotional’ Starmer bans social media for kids before ‘more lives lost’

The parents of Brianna Ghey and Molly Russell told Sir Keir Starmer to show courage and political leadership as they met with him to demand action on the dangers of social media.

The Prime Minister was ‘genuinely moved’ as mums and dads told their stories of how their children’s deaths were linked to harmful online content.

Sir Keir promised action within weeks during the meeting and said ministers ‘are going to act’ after the government consultation on the issue ends tonight.

The sit-down discussion in Downing Street comes after months of pressure for a ban to be placed on social media use for under-16s.

Esther Ghey, whose transgender teenager daughter Brianna was stabbed to death by killers radicalised on the dark web, is a leading advocate for a ban.

She told Metro: ‘This really calls for strong leadership from Keir Starmer. We are talking about people in this country that he is in charge of. We are talking about children.

‘This is such an opportunity for him to really lead on this.

‘The longer we delay, the more children’s lives will be lost and the more families will be joining the group we are part of.’

The mum said she felt that today was a ‘tipping point’ for the government to commit to a ban, although she did not give her reaction to the media after leaving the meeting.

Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life after viewing suicide and self-harm content online, told Metro on the steps of Number 10 that the Prime Minister ‘was genuinely moved’ during the forum.

The dad added: ‘Time will tell if that emotion will turn into a proper response.

‘It is really important that he uses a day like today to give him the courage he needs to follow the evidence.

‘If you don’t follow the evidence and get to the best way forward, then all of this is in vain.’

While the majority of parents who spoke with Sir Keir today were calling for a social media ban, Ian Russell does not think that is a ‘sensible way forward’.

Instead, he said he wanted a ban on addictive algorithms, infinite scrolling on social media and stopping strangers from being able to contact young people online.

Lorin LaFave left the ‘very emotional’ meeting saying she was ‘optimistic’ the Prime Minister would eventually commit to raising the age of social media access to 16, which she supports.

The mum, whose teenage son was murdered by an online groomer in 2014, told Metro: ‘The Prime Minister seemed genuine and understanding.

‘We hope this is the last step before he is able to make big changes.

‘And it has to be a big change. It cannot be little things here or there.’

The Prime Minister is under intense pressure to announce a ban on social media for under-16s.

The government has long said any decision would wait until after their consultation on the subject, which finally comes to end at midnight tonight.

Medical leaders kicked off the day by revealing they think social media is as harmful for children as smoking.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warned of ‘a wave of radicalised children’ from exposure to ‘hateful, manipulative, addictive and grossly distressing’ social media content.

Their submission to the Government Consultation included harrowing stories from doctors and health professionals across the country about the impact social media is having on children in the UK.

Sir Keir’s political rivals have added to those calls over the bank holiday weekend.

Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting, who are seen as potential leadership contenders, both backed a ban.

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