Recent research indicates that despite the Online Safety Act being enforced last summer, young girls continue to encounter harmful suicide and self-harm content on social media platforms.
Ian Russell, the father of Molly Russell, is advocating for targeted actions rather than a blanket social media ban for individuals under 16. Molly tragically took her own life in 2017 due to exposure to such content.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce a ban for under 16s on popular platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok following a three-month consultation by the Government to determine the most effective course of action.
A survey conducted by The Mirror revealed that almost half of girls and a third of teenagers aged 13 to 17 encountered high-risk suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content within a week in April. The study also found that the prevalence of harmful content has only slightly decreased post the implementation of the Online Safety Act.
This data raises concerns about the efficacy of existing online safety regulations and whether major tech companies are complying with these rules.
The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), responsible for the study, expressed grave concerns that emulating Australia’s social media ban may not address the underlying product safety issues identified in their research.
It is understood that the upcoming social media ban for under 16s in the UK will include additional measures beyond the Australian model, such as restrictions on design features and curfews for 16- and 17-year-olds, and will encompass more services including gaming platforms.
Mr. Russell, although initially opposed to a ban, expressed disappointment in Keir Starmer for opting for a ban rather than focusing on long-term strategies to enhance social media safety.
Nine out of ten parents participating in the Government’s online safety consultation advocated for age limits akin to those in Australia.
Despite Australia’s ban on social media for under 16s, MRF polling shows that a significant percentage of Australian teenagers still access restricted platforms, highlighting potential challenges with enforcing such bans.
Some experts caution that a ban may relieve tech companies of their responsibility to improve platform safety. Arturo Béjar, a former senior Meta employee turned whistleblower, emphasized the need for platforms to demonstrate safety before allowing young users access.
Other parents who have lost children to online-related incidents support the ban. Ellen Roome, whose son passed away in 2022 due to an online challenge, has been vocal in advocating for stricter regulations on social media platforms.
The National Education Union (NEU), representing numerous school staff members, stands with other organizations in favor of a social media ban for underage users.
Media regulator Ofcom previously mandated online services to take immediate action to prevent minors from accessing harmful content like pornography, suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder-related material.
All social media platforms were required to implement age verification measures by July 2025 to comply with the Online Safety Act, covering platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
::: MEL Research conducted a survey involving 1,825 UK teenagers aged 13-17, with fieldwork taking place in schools during April 2026, in collaboration with the PHSE Association.
For support, individuals can contact the Samaritans helpline at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch, or access their website.
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