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  "path": "/2026/05/26/parents-demand-emotional-starmer-bans-social-media-kids-more-lives-lost-28524555/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-26T17:10:05.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "UK",
    "Cybercrime",
    "Social Media",
    "Keir Starmer",
    "mums",
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    "health",
    "Angela Rayner",
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    "check our news page",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Parents who have lost their children through social media attend Downing Street today to ask for the age to be 16 before social media can be used on their children’s phones (Picture: w8media)\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe Prime Minister was ‘genuinely moved’ as mums and dads told their stories of how their children’s deaths were linked to harmful online content.\n\nSir Keir promised action within weeks during the meeting and said ministers ‘are going to act’ after the government consultation on the issue ends tonight.\n\nThe sit-down discussion in Downing Street comes after months of pressure for a ban to be placed on social media use for under-16s.\n\nEsther Ghey warned that urgent action was needed to prevent more children from losing their lives (Picture: w8media)\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nEsther Ghey, whose transgender teenager daughter Brianna was stabbed to death by killers radicalised on the dark web, is a leading advocate for a ban.\n\nShe 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.\n\n‘This is such an opportunity for him to really lead on this.\n\n‘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.’\n\nThe 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.\n\nIan 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.\n\nThe dad added: ‘Time will tell if that emotion will turn into a proper response.\n\nIan Russell said the Prime Minister was ‘genuinely moved’ during the meeting with parents today (Picture: w8media)\n\n‘It is really important that he uses a day like today to give him the courage he needs to follow the evidence.\n\n‘If you don’t follow the evidence and get to the best way forward, then all of this is in vain.’\n\nWhile 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’.\n\n##  Need support?\n\nFor emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on **116 123** , email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.\n\nPAPYRUS offers specialised suicide prevention support for young people. Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.\n\nInstead, 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.\n\nLorin 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.\n\nThe mum, whose teenage son was murdered by an online groomer in 2014, told **Metro** : ‘The Prime Minister seemed genuine and understanding.\n\nLorin LaFave said the meeting had given her optimism the government would make big changes on social media access for under-16s (Picture: w8media)\n\n‘We hope this is the last step before he is able to make big changes.\n\n‘And it has to be a big change. It cannot be little things here or there.’\n\nThe Prime Minister is under intense pressure to announce a ban on social media for under-16s.\n\nThe government has long said any decision would wait until after their consultation on the subject, which finally comes to end at midnight tonight.\n\nMedical leaders kicked off the day by revealing they think social media is as harmful for children as smoking.\n\nThe Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warned of ‘a wave of radicalised children’ from exposure to ‘hateful, manipulative, addictive and grossly distressing’ social media content.\n\nTheir 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.\n\nSir Keir’s political rivals have added to those calls over the bank holiday weekend.\n\nAngela Rayner and Wes Streeting, who are seen as potential leadership contenders, both backed a ban.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Parents demand ’emotional’ Starmer bans social media for kids before ‘more lives lost’"
}