Andy Burnham has indicated he would implement a ban on social media and VPNs for under-16s if he becomes Prime Minister, following through on Sir Keir Starmer's policy. The Greater Manchester Mayor and newly elected MP for Makerfield is widely expected to succeed Starmer after his resignation.
Burnham's Stance on Social Media Regulation
In an interview with The Times in April 2025, Burnham spoke favorably of regulating social media for teenagers. He stated, “It’s clear that from a mental health point of view this is harmful. Why are we equivocating? If it’s not a ban it needs to be something. We’ve got to start to think differently about tech.”
Tech Policy Press has reported that Burnham “is unlikely to change course on the policy.” The report highlights his consistent support for stricter measures, including a VPN ban to prevent under-16s from bypassing restrictions.
Cross-Party Consensus and Endorsements
In January 2026, Burnham endorsed comments by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who backed a social media ban. Burnham said, “I find myself agreeing with a lot of what Kemi Badenoch is saying about children and social media. It seems to me parents would welcome a cross-party consensus around much bolder action.” This cross-party support strengthens the likelihood of the ban being enacted.
Burnham previously launched an initiative to address the “digital divide,” arguing that “digital access is considered a basic human right.” However, his current focus is on restricting access for children to protect their mental health.
Implementation and Education Plans
Lisa Nandy, a key figure in the policy's development, addressed concerns from children about the ban. She said, “One of the things that we're doing is putting more money into helping young people to understand what they're seeing online, and what they're dealing with, how to keep themselves safe online.”
Nandy emphasized that the ban would be accompanied by increased investment in youth services. “We know that there will always be young people who ask their parents for permission to look at things on their accounts. But this will mean that parents will have far more oversight and understanding of what children are looking at,” she added.
Impact on Youth and Families
Nandy noted that many families she had heard from did not want their children on social media, but “want them out playing with their friends, learning new skills, playing sports.” She described the initiative as the “biggest investment into youth in a generation,” funding youth services, mini-buses, and sports clubs to provide alternatives.
The ban is part of a broader strategy to address mental health concerns among teenagers, with Burnham and his allies arguing that decisive action is needed to protect young people from harmful online content.
