Mother of murdered Brianna Ghey urges Starmer to ban social media for under-16s

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Kiran Stacey Policy editorJanuary 19, 2026 at 07:10 PM

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Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, has urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to support a ban on social media for under-16s in the UK. Ghey, along with eight other bereaved parents, is advocating for the ban ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Lords. She believes social media exacerbated Brianna's mental health struggles, including an eating disorder and self-harm, fueled by harmful online content. Ghey's letter details Brianna's obsession with TikTok and her fears about her daughter's online interactions. The government is expected to release a consultation on child safety online, including potential social media restrictions, but it's unclear if this will deter support for the ban.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kemi Badenoch 30% Ed Davey 30% Warrington 40% Cheshire 40% House of Lords 50% TikTok ×270% Keir Starmer ×270% Esther Ghey ×380% Brianna Ghey ×790%

Keywords

brianna ghey 100% social media ban 90% mental health 70% child safety online 70% tiktok 60% self-harm 60% eating disorder 60% online content 50% social media addiction 50% under-16s 40%