Calls to ban children from social media

THE UK should follow Australia's lead and ban youngsters from social media, says a leading campaigner for the protection of childhood.

- David Williamson

The call by former MP Miriam Cates follows Canberra backing the world's toughest rules to stop under-16s using social media.

Tech giants could face fines of nearly £26million if they do not enforce the new rules that will prevent youngsters from holding social media accounts.

GB News presenter Ms Cates wants children denied access to "dreadful" content which encourages suicide, self-harm, misogyny and exposes them to pornography.

And she hopes Britain will follow Australia's example.

The ex-Tory MP, a senior fellow at the Centre for Social Justice, is concerned children can be "contacted by people they don't know and bullied by people they do know" and spend hours staring at screens.