London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has called for a ban on social media for under-16s as he warned online misogyny risks “a lost generation of young men”.
His backing comes amid growing pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer from campaigners, including parents bereaved by social media-linked deaths, to implement an Australia-style ban.
The Government recently concluded its consultation on children’s online experiences, which explored various measures such as a ban for under-16s, app curfews, and limits on addictive features.
While Sir Keir has promised to take “game-changer” action on the issue and vowed to move quickly, he has yet to commit to a specific ban for under-16s.
His Labour Party colleague Sir Sadiq has previously suggested monitoring the impact of Australia’s ban, but is now publicly backing such a measure.
Speaking at SXSW in London on Tuesday, Sir Sadiq said tech firms must prove their services are safe for children or face a ban on being available to under-16s.
“A ban on under-16s is the only way to stem the harms we know are happening right now,” he said.
“From food to pharmaceuticals, almost every company has to prove that its products are safe before they’re sold. I see no reason why social media firms shouldn’t do the same.”
However, he said a ban alone will not solve online misogyny nor the challenges to masculinity from online influencers from the “manosphere”.
He called on tech companies to “explain how misogyny spreads like wildfire on their platforms, and publicly set out how they’ll adjust their algorithms to stop it”, adding: “If they refuse to act, then the state will step up.”
Announcing a £1 million package of measures to support boys and young men across the capital, he warned that online misogyny risks “a lost generation of young men”, branding so-called manosphere influencers “snake oil salesmen who take advantage of young men’s ambition to peddle pound shop misogyny”.
He also called for efforts to engage young men amid the conversations around “toxic masculinity”, rather than risk leaving many feeling “alienated” and “looking for validation elsewhere”.
His office said the £1 million package of measures includes supporting vulnerable boys in schools and pupil referral units through the mayor’s violence reduction unit, funding a new programme for fathers and putting football mentors into communities across the capital.
Speaking after his speech, Sir Sadiq said Ofcom – the media regulator – should not be afraid to ask the Government for more powers to force social media companies to explain why their algorithms allow misogyny to “spread like wildfire”.
“If there’s a need for more legislation, then Ofcom shouldn’t be scared to ask the Government for that,” he said.
“(Social media companies) should be asked to change their algorithm. Ofcom has got powers, and if they say they’re not going to have powers, they should ask the Government for more powers.”
