Braunton councillor welcomes social media ban after years lobbying for smartphone-free schools
Devon county councillor Graham Bell, who led the push to remove smartphones from Braunton's classrooms, says Keir Starmer's announcement of a social media ban for under-16s is a victory "after years of lobbying", but says protecting children's wellbeing must come before "shareholder profit."
Under-16s will be banned from social media by spring 2027 under government plans announced by the Prime Minister, in a move welcomed by a Braunton county councillor who has campaigned on the issue for years.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the ban will cover platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X, though WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected. The plans still need to pass through Parliament.
Speaking from Downing Street, the PM said social media was making children unhappy, fuelling cyberbullying, and was "designed to be addictive." He said the ban would give children more time, security and freedom to grow up , and that the government was "not prepared to compromise" on children's safety, drawing on lessons from Australia's ban, introduced in December 2025.
Graham Bell, the Devon county councillor for Braunton Rural and a father, has been a vocal advocate for restricting children's access to smartphones and social media. He successfully brought a Smartphone Free Schools motion to Devon County Council in September 2025, and has since worked to introduce similar motions in Cornwall and other councils across the country.
Mr Bell credited the campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC), a grassroots movement now spanning 45 chapters worldwide, with guiding his motion. SFC campaigns for delaying smartphone ownership until age 14 and restricting social media access until 16, and has been lobbying the government to raise the minimum age.
Reacting to the announcement, Mr Bell said: "The negative effects of social media have been apparent for over a decade, but despite many promises, the social media giants have utterly failed to protect young children from online predators, cyberbullying, or the horrific imagery that the majority of children see online every day."
"Since 2013, parents have fought with trillion-dollar algorithms for the right to raise our children. This battle has led to anxiety and low self-esteem for children (and their parents). In the most serious cases, families have suffered the very worst consequences."
He added: "As a dad, I've always done my best to shield my children from harm of all kinds. Protecting them from the dangers of uncontrolled social media access was one of the motivations behind the Smartphone Free Schools motion we brought to County Council in September 2025. As we have seen across the five Braunton schools, when smartphones are removed from the classroom, attainment and sociality skyrocket. It is vital that children grow up understanding that technology is a tool, and not a substitute for real learning or connections."
Mr Bell said he was "so pleased" the government was finally acting. "I am so pleased that after years of lobbying, the government is now addressing the dangers that children face from online predators. Children's well-being must come before shareholder profit."