Actor Hugh Grant has joined calls for a social media ban for under-16s, arguing parents are in an "impossible position" regarding online harms.
The Hollywood actor added that he is "looking for leadership from Westminster" ahead of a debate in the House of Lords.
Peers are set to discuss amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on Wednesday, aiming to raise the social media age limit.
Former schools minister Lord Nash, who tabled the amendment, warned that without "swift action to raise the age limit for social media to 16, we are at risk of a societal catastrophe".
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall this week announced a three-month consultation on a ban, examining pros and cons, curfews and actions to prevent "doom-scrolling", reporting in summer.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the issue "of real concern to parents", noting his own experience as a father to two teenagers.
He told the Commons on Wednesday the consultation will “look at expert and international evidence to get this right”, including restrictions on age and addictive features as well as screen time use by under-fives.
Lord Nash has insisted the consultation simply represents more delay, arguing the evidence is “overwhelming” for a ban, with support from “medical professionals to our police and national intelligence community, from our teachers to hundreds of thousands of parents”.
He warned: “The time for delay and procrastination is over.”
Hollywood star Grant is one of the signatories in a letter to Sir Keir, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, backing the amendment.
The letter is also signed by Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers in 2023.
Ms Ghey has previously said her daughter had a “social media addiction” and “desperately wanted to be TikTok famous”, putting her “in constant fear about who Brianna might be speaking to online”.
Other signatories include singer Peter Andre and actor Sophie Winkleman, while the letter is also backed by Parentkind and Mumsnet.
It states: “Children are being served up extreme content without seeking it out. Parents know this has to stop. But they cannot do this alone, and they are asking for politicians to help.
“National polling by Parentkind shows that 93% of parents say social media is harmful to children and young people. Yet many feel enormous pressure to provide smartphones or are unable to prevent their children accessing platforms designed for adults.
“Parents are in an impossible position, and they are looking for leadership from Westminster. Today is the day you can act to help them.
“The safeguarding of children is an issue that must always rise above politics. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill offers a real chance to protect childhood and support parents with clear, practical measures. We must act now, and not delay. Parents are asking for action, and your peers in Parliament can deliver it.”
Signatories argue clear age limits “send a strong signal and would be the single most effective way to help parents manage their children’s digital lives and keep them safe”.
Lord Nash’s amendment has been co-sponsored by Labour peer Baroness Berger, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Benjamin and independent crossbench peer Baroness Cass.
Campaigners for the ban have argued social media is fuelling catastrophic harm to children’s health and driving radicalisation and crime, in addition to an epidemic of mental illness.
But not all campaigners are supportive of a ban, with some warning it might be a “blunt response” which fails to address the responsibility of big tech companies in ensuring their platforms are safe for users.
A statement issued at the weekend by the Molly Rose Foundation and NSPCC among others said parents are “right to demand that the Government stands on the side of children and families”, but that “blanket bans on social media would fail to deliver the improvement in children’s safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need”.
See our letter to @Keir_Starmer, @KemiBadenoch , and Sir @EdwardJDavey. We hope all parties support a social media ban for under-16s. Today’s the day to help parents & children!
— Parentkind (@Parentkind) January 21, 2026
We’ve got 26 leading voices – including Hugh Grant, Peter Andre, and Sophie Winkleman. pic.twitter.com/4tNCe8IOyc
They added: “They are a blunt response that fails to address the successive shortcomings of tech companies and governments to act decisively and sooner.”
Girlguiding chief executive Felicity Oswald has also aired reservations about a ban, saying she believes “removing young people’s access will not rectify the root of the problem”.
She added: “Issuing a blanket ban risks the suggestion that young people themselves are the issue, rather than the design of the platforms they use.”
Meanwhile, filmmaker and children’s rights campaigner Baroness Kidron has branded the Government’s announcement of a consultation on children’s wellbeing online “an insult” to Parliament, parents and youngsters, warning that it will delay action to keep children safe online.
Crossbencher Baroness Kidron said she would be voting in favour of Lord Nash’s amendment during a debate on Wednesday.
England’s Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, who has previously said she would support a properly-enforced ban, said it could be “really tricky” in a practical sense, but insisted it must be a decision based on “understanding and not of knee-jerk reaction”.
She told MPs on the Human Rights Committee: “In terms of a ban. What are you going to do? Are you going to age-assess the App Store? Because, you know, it’s really tricky. Is it going to be one or two sites?
“I think there are some really tricky things to do, to do this well. And again, my big plea (to Government) would be, ‘please speak to young people’.”
Prince William to make first official visit to Saudi Arabia after request from PM
Trump hits out at Europe and doubles down on Greenland demands – but won’t use force
‘Farage effect is starting to wear off’: Readers say Reform slump is helping Badenoch
Starmer says Green Party are ‘high on drugs, soft on Putin’ during PMQs attack
‘I would have done social media ban consultation sooner’ – Ofsted boss
Trump has left Starmer with no choice – it’s time to get tough
