Social media curfews not enough to protect youngsters, Starmer told, as Amanda Holden takes aim at PM for dithering

By SOPHIE CHURCH - POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:16, 12 June 2026 | Updated: 22:26, 12 June 2026 Social media curfews do not go far enough at protecting children online, Keir Starmer has been warned - as Labour was on Friday accused of failing to 'grip' the crisis facing young people. The Prime Minister is set on Monday to announce curfews for 16 and 17 year olds on social media as part of long-awaited plans to prevent harm for youngsters online. And he will introduce a total block on under-16s using certain social media platforms, creating and watching livestreams, using disappearing messages and features that allow them to chat with adult strangers online. Under 18s meanwhile will be blocked from accessing AI chatbots that encourage romantic or sexual conversations. But Labour was on Friday accused of failing to 'grip' the peril youngsters face online in the plans – which are still being finalised. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: 'The fact we are still discussing curfews as a policy solution shows the Government do not have a proper grip on what children are being exposed to. 'Boys are being served up violence and pornography, and girls are seeing content throughout the day that is making them hate themselves. This content does not just appear late at night. 'Anything short of a social media ban for children and getting them off these platforms is not good enough. Labour need to stop siding with big tech, back parents, and take serious action to protect childhood now.' Labour was on Friday accused of failing to 'grip' the peril youngsters face online in plans to protect kids online – which are still being finalised Amanda Holden on Friday joined in critiquing the PM over his delay in announcing safety measures for youngsters online Shadow education secretary Laura Trott is seen leaving BBC Broadcasting House in London And Lord Nash, the author of an amendment backing a full social media ban for under-16s, said: 'If a curfew is for 16 and 17 -year-olds, that is good but the Government's focus hopefully will be on raising the age to 16 for access to harmful social media sites and functionalities. 'Without this robust action children will be left at risk of severe harm and tragically worse.' This comes as recent polling commissioned by the National Education Union reveals more than half of UK adults would view the Government more positively if it introduced a full ban for under-16s across all social media platforms. And two in five said the full ban would create a positive legacy for Keir Starmer – who is clinging to power after John Healey resigned from government. But Sir Keir is understood to be implementing the ban on certain social media platforms only – with YouTube Kids for instance thought to be exempt. And Amanda Holden on Friday joined in critiquing the PM over his delay in announcing safety measures. The Britain's Got Talent judge said on her Heart FM show: 'I don't know why Keir Starmer is taking so much time. 'I'm going to be very cynical and say he's only doing it because he needs some sort of boost to his leadership. If he's using it for that, then good luck but we should still kick him out.' Admitting she would have to wipe all social media accounts from her daughter's phone thanks to Government inaction, she said: 'I'm really ballsy about it because Keir Starmer and all that lot are really getting on my nerves.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on speculation about future announcements. 'We've been clear that we are determined to act quickly, but we will do so in a way that is effective, enforceable and genuinely keeps children safe. 'As we've previously said, we will set out the Government's response by the summer, and importantly we already have the powers to act within months rather than years.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.