Campaigners warn: Don't cave now, keir.

Today the ‘Big Tech’s Little Victims’ campaign is issuing a final warning to Keir Starmer ahead of his decision on a social media ban for under-16s, taking its message directly to Westminster with a mobile billboard outside Parliament urging the Prime Minister not to cave in to Big Tech.

New polling shows the public backs raising the age of social media access to 16 (70%) and agrees weaker measures won’t do enough to protect children from harm (63%). Campaigners say this is a once-in-a-premiership decision for Starmer – one that will shape both children’s safety and his political legacy. With 42% of Brits saying raising the age to 16 would create a positive legacy for the Prime Minister, he must now decide whether to stand up to Big Tech and protect children, or cave into industry pressure and settle for weak measures that leave them exposed.

With the Government expected to respond to its ‘Growing up in the online world’ consultation before the Makerfield by-election (18 June), campaigners say Starmer must prioritise the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Despite over half (53%) of Brits saying they would view the Government more favourably if it introduced a full ban for under-16s, the Prime Minister’s speech earlier this week (8 June) focused on measures that should already exist, failing to show real action on raising the age, while reports suggest ministers are retreating to other half measures – like time limits and curfews – that ignore the addictive design and harmful content at the heart of these platforms.

The campaign has taken that call directly to Westminster, with a mobile billboard outside the Houses of Parliament reading: “Prime Minister, how do you want to be remembered? As the man who stood up to Big Tech? Or the man who caved to billionaires? Protect children. Raise the age to 16.”

Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This is Keir Starmer’s moment of truth. The public backs action, parents have spoken, and the evidence is overwhelming. Anything less than a full ban would mean caving in to Big Tech.

“He has heard from parents and families living with the consequences of online harm, and he has heard from Big Tech lobbyists – now he must decide whose side he is on. There can be no more delay and no more half measures. The Government must act to ban social media for under-16s.”