Ban smartphones for the under-16s, Sunak urged

A PROMINENT Tory MP has urged Rishi Sunak to consider a complete ban on smartphones and social media use for under-16s.

Miriam Cates, the co-chairman of the New Conservatives group of backbenchers who are on the Right of the party, said the move would follow a “strong tradition” of British laws designed to protect children.

Ms Cates referred to the case of Mia Janin, who is believed to have taken her life aged 14 in 2021 after claims she was subjected to bullying at the UK’S most prominent Jewish school.

On Tuesday, Mia’s father Mariano Janin told an inquest he believed she had been cyber-bullied by pupils at JFS in north London. In statements given to police, pupils were said to have made fun of her on social media platforms.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Cates said: “Since 2010 across the English-speaking world there’s been a marked increase in poor teen mental health, teen suicide attempts and children addicted to pornography.

“The United Kingdom has a strong tradition of legislating to protect children from serious threats to their safety and welfare.

“So does my right honourable friend agree with me that it’s time to consider banning social media, perhaps even smartphones, for under-16s?”

Mr Sunak said Ms Cates was “absolutely right to highlight the impact of what happens online on our children”, before adding that the Online Safety Act “tackles both criminal activity online and protects children from harmful or inappropriate content”.

“Ofcom are rightly developing and consulting on the guidance and the codes of practices for how those platforms will meet their duties.

“If they don’t clean up their act, then Ofcom will be able to impose fines of up to 10 per cent on the social media firms.”