Liz Jarvis a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, said that the ban may not hold tech giants "truly accountable".

She said: "I am concerned that this policy falls short of holding tech giants truly accountable. Social Media companies have been allowed to get away with treating children like data mines for far too long.

"The onus needs to be on these tech companies to finally prioritise safety over profit by properly enforcing this ban."

YouTube has warned that a blanket social media restriction could push children toward "less-safe services", following Sir Keir Starmer's announcement of a ban for under-16s.

A YouTube spokesperson said: "We've invested in expert-led, age-appropriate experiences and default protections for teens for over a decade and will continue to do so. YouTube is a vital resource for young people, educators and parents.

"Blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less-safe services." As he announced the ban, the Prime Minister suggested there would be a carve-out for online learning tools such as YouTube Kids.

YouTube has warned that the ban could push children to 'less safe services'(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Bereaved mother Ellen Roome said she and other parents shed a tear when Sir Keir Starmer announced the social media ban.Schoolboy Jools Sweeney was 14 when he took his own life in 2022, and Ms Roome believes his death could have been linked to an online challenge gone wrong.She told the Press Association: “Sitting with the other bereaved parents, we all did shed a tear.“We shouldn’t be having to be in this position but we all lost our children and campaigned to make a difference for other people’s children, so it was a very powerful but important moment. So delighted to hear it.”

Ellen Roome with her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney, who she believes died after a social media challenge went wrong(Image: PA)

Speaking to This Morning, Starmer said his children have voiced their views on the incoming social media ban.

Starmer is a dad of two. He has one son, aged 17, and a daughter who is 15 - meaning she would be inacted by the ban when it comes into effect next year. He said her reaction to the policy was “slighly mixed”, but added that his and his wife Victoria's decision to ensure their children were happy and healthy meant regulating children's interaction with social media.

He said social media does not make children happier.

The PM is now appearing on ITV's This Morning, and is explaining the process he took when deciding to enact a social media ban.

He said it was "humbling" to speak with parents, and, when asked about why he wasn't putting pressure on tech firms to regulate their content, said a ban was the "right thing to do". He added that the Government is looking at "further measures" to address the issue.

Mirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson here…

I’ve just been at Downing Street where Keir Starmer has announced a policy of seismic magnitude.

Millions of children aged 13 to 16 will now be banned from social media. The current minimum age for most sites is 13. This policy is huge. The press conference room in No10 was packed with online safety campaigners, who erupted with applause after it was unveiled. After years of campaigning for bold and decisive action to tackle online safety, they saw the PM deliver just that.

I bumped into Technology Secretary Liz Kendall after the speech - she voiced her relief and delight the announcement was finally out there. Her department had just pushed through one of the most significant changes to the online world and smartphone culture since their inception.

Ms Kendall is expected to address MPs in the Commons this afternoon with more info on the package. The PM’s statement was lacking in technical detail. Enforcing a ban of this scale is no small task. Secondary legislation will need to be introduced, while media regulator Ofcom will need to start urgent planning for its implementation.

I’m now about to head to the G7 summit in France, where Mr Starmer will have to face Donald Trump, whose White House has already voiced concerns over a ban. Mr Starmer described today as a “big moment for our country”. He is certainly right about that.

Keir Starmer made a seismic announcement at Number 10 today(Image: Carlos Jasso/PA Wire)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is, as expected, among critical voices of the ban. He has warned the policy will "mean the introduction of Digital ID", and suggested it won't work due to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

He said in a post on X: "Whilst the social media ban is well-intentioned, it’s unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs. It will also mean the introduction of Digital ID via the back door.

"The real answer here is handsets for children with limited features."

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Mental health experts have said they are closely observing the impact a social media ban will have, with Dr Catherine Sebastian, head of evidence for mental health at Wellcome, saying the organisation will "observe what happens".

She said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to gain a better understanding of youth mental health. We do not know how these measures will impact teenagers' mental health. It is crucial that scientists closely observe what happens, to inform future policy.

"Wellcome will be funding nationwide studies to independently monitor the impact of the ban. Researchers will examine whether there is an improvement in teenagers' mental health - and if so, why.

"Is it, for example, that teenagers are socialising in real life more, or is it that they are getting better sleep? Young people want to know the answers to these questions, too, so we will work with them to design the studies.

"In addition, this evaluation will help us suggest new ways to support young people. As countries around the world explore the same path, the UK can lead the way in providing rigorous evidence on how the digital world affects mental health."

The social media ban has received rare cross-party support, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcoming the "fantastic news" in her first response to the announcement this morning.

She said in a post on X: "It is fantastic news that the Government has finally woken up to the dangers of social media for young people. This is an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children."

She did inject some Tory spin into the statement, however, adding the party welcomes "this latest Labour U-turn" and pledged to work on the "best implementation of the policy".

Kemi Badenoch has hailed the Government's move(Image: NEIL HALL/EPA/Shutterstock)

The dad of Mia Janin, a teenager who died in 2021 after she fell victim to cyber bullying, has become the latest parent to speak in support of the ban.

Mia took her own life over sustained bullying online, which Mariano said following her inquest was "prolonged and sustained", "in various ways in person and online". Commenting on today's announcement, he said he was left "emotional" and "speechless".

He said: "I think it's a change in the right direction, it won't be easy, but it will be possible."

Mia Janin in 2021(Image: PA)

The mum of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old girl who was killed by two teenagers, has said she is "happy" after this morning's announcement. Brianna was killed in 2023 after the teens accessed harmful online content. Esther Ghey said she was pleased with the move, and also praised Government investment in after-school clubs. She told BBC Breakfast: “Another thing that I’m really happy about is that the government are now investing in after-school clubs, because we can’t just take things away from children.“I think that although we are celebrating, that this can potentially save so many children’s lives, but there will be children and other campaigners out there that will be concerned about this decision, and we need to make sure that there is support in place for these children and for these families.”

Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death by two teenagers(Image: PA)

Among organisations reacting to the Government's ban is Save the Children, one of the UK's most prominent children's charities.

Jeffrey Demarco, Senior Adviser at Save the Children UK, said the ban would "change how children access and experience the digital world", and warned that young people affected by the ban should help to inform it.

He said: "This announcement reflects legitimate concerns about children's safety online, but a ban of this scale would change how children access and experience the digital world. The UK government must ensure that any decisions are informed by children themselves and by independent experts.

"We are concerned that a blanket ban may look protective on paper, but instead pushes children into less regulated spaces, where they are less likely to seek help when something goes wrong. Children growing up in poverty are likely to be among those most affected.

“If ministers want to make the online world safer, the answer is not simply keeping children off platforms. The focus must be on providing better support for parents by making platforms safer by design, tackling addictive and high-risk features such as stranger contact, live streaming, nudification tools and unsafe AI systems, so that children are not exposed to harm online."

Responding to a question from the Mirror's Sophie Huskisson, the Prime Minister said he has the "highest regard and highest respect" for Ian Russell, who was 14 when she died by suicide in 2017 after being bombarded by harmful online content.

Ian has said that he isn't convinced the ban will have any significant impact, telling the Mirror that it will leave behind "the same dangerous digital landscape".

Starmer said that, while he respected Ian's views, he had different beliefs about how the issue should be tackled. He said it was possible "deeply respect for someone's views but come to a different conclusion" and pledged to continue to work with people like Ian.

Justine Roberts, the founder of parenting forum Mumsnet, is among those who have warmly welcomed the ban announcement today.

She said: “Today’s announcement is a huge moment for children’s online safety, and for every parent who has felt powerless in the face of addictive technology designed to keep children scrolling. For too long, families have been told this was simply a matter of better parenting, while billion-dollar companies built products to capture and hold children’s attention for as long as possible, regardless of the effect on their wellbeing.

"This announcement recognises what parents have been saying for years: that children’s health and happiness must come before the commercial interests of Big Tech. That is why we launched Mumsnet’s Rage Against The Screen campaign, and why we are delighted that the government has listened to parents, to Mumsnet users and to other campaigners, and chosen to take meaningful action.

“But this is not the end of the fight. Big Tech will work hard to defend business models built on keeping young people online for as long as possible. The success of these measures will depend on effective implementation, enforcement and regular monitoring. What matters now is that this commitment endures beyond the headlines, and is carried through with the urgency children and families deserve.”

The social media ban has been warmly welcomed by some advocates(Image: Getty Images)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was clear to him that “a full ban is the right choice”.

He said: “This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice. I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants, but I ask the question now, ‘do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?’

“Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I? Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”

Social media ban plans being announced today are being marketed as an "Australia plus" initiative that builds on the country's blanket move.

The Australian ban enforces an age limit of 16 on social media apps, but the UK's aims to go further and also introduce rules governing AI tools. These are expected to specifically target romantic or sexual AI chatbots, and children could also be blocked from chatting to strangers on gaming platforms.

Yeserday's announcement of new social media rules likely will not have gone down well with Donald Trump, whose administration is relentlessly pro-tech and has tried to shut down bids by other nations to regulate US firms.

In a response to the consultation, the US embassy in London said the country preferred "narrowly targeted requirements", that "most content should be accessible by default", and that age verification requirements could "impose disproportionate compliance burdens on American companies".

The social media ban risks irking Donald Trump(Image: Zuffa LLC)

The Prime Minister has framed the social media ban debate as a "choice about whose side we're on" in comments released alongside the consultation results today.

Sir Keir said: "How we keep kids safe online is one of the biggest debates of our time. As a dad, I know every parent wants their child to grow up safe and happy. This is a choice about whose side we're on: families across the country, or a status quo that isn't working.

"People rightly expect action, and this Government will always stand up for parents and put children first. That's why we will call time on a system that's failing our kids and take bold action to give every child the best possible start in life."

(Image: ANDY RAIN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

The public consultation on the social media issue, which closed on May 26, received about 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest in history.

Over 83 percent of parents who responded said social media risks outweigh the benefits for children - with 91% backing a minimum age of 16 before platforms can offer their services to children.

Almost two thirds (62 percent) of children who responded said restricting the high-risk features would make them safer online.

But 72 percent also said they were worried about feeling left out if restrictions came in.

The Government has said its consultation revealed massive support for an under-16s ban(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The proposed social media ban has not landed well with social media safety advocates, including the Molly Rose Foundation, whose chief executive Andy Burrows has dubbed it "unenforcable".

He said: “The Prime Minister has chosen to gamble on an unenforceable social media ban that will quickly unravel. When that happens parents and children will ask why he chose not to follow the evidence but take the politically expedient option instead. A social media ban will fail to tackle fundamental product safety risks issues and leaves parents with a false sense of safety.

"A majority of children will continue to use high risk sites that will have no incentive to implement robust protections. This is not what online safety experts believe will work and is necessary. Keir Starmer has chosen to abdicate responsibility for tackling harmful algorithms and his legacy will be setting back children’s safety by years.”

Keir Starmer will hold a press conference in Downing Street at just after 8am this morning.

The PM is expected to unveil a landmark package of social media reforms, including a ban for under 16s. It comes after mounting pressure after Australia enforced a ban in December.

The widely-debated measures follow a three-month online safety consultation which closed on May 26 and saw 116,000 responses from parents, industry and young people themselves.

Nine in 10 parents who responded to the consultation demanded Australia-style age limits. More than six in 10 (62%) young people said restricting risky features - such as the ability to send explicit images, livestreaming would make them feel safer. But 72% also said they were worried about feeling left out if restrictions came in.