Labour’s Secret Weapon to Crush the Reform UK Surge Might Be Hiding in Plain Sight

Labor MP Joe Powell is making headlines with a groundbreaking private members bill aimed at curbing the addictive nature of social media for children under 16. Could Labor be about to stumble upon an effective way to win back voters who are flocking to Reform UK?

The bill seeks to restrict social media companies from collecting online data from anyone under 16 without parental consent and proposes raising the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16. While it stops short of banning smartphones entirely for children, the legislation is designed to empower families and educators to better manage screen time.

The bill, scheduled for its second reading in the Commons on March 7, comes at a time when polling data reveals a significant shift in public opinion. Recent findings from pollsters More in Common indicate that 81% of Reform voters support raising the age limit on social media platforms from 13 to 16, according to the Huffington Post.

The measure is marginally more popular with Reform voters than with Labor supporters (75%) and Tory backers (79%). Moreover, 72% of those surveyed believe social media harms young people, while only 14% see it as positive. Grassroots organization Smartphone Free Childhood claims that over 200,000 parents, grandparents, teachers, and health professionals have joined the call for reform.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Powell stated his bill is already “hugely popular across the country, including with voters tempted by parties like Reform.” His initiative reflects growing concern over the adverse effects of excessive smartphone use. Data from Childwise’s The Monitor Report 2023 reveals that 13-14-year-olds spend an average of 4.4 hours on their phones each day—far exceeding the NHS recommendation—and face issues such as poor sleep, reduced mental well-being, and decreased concentration.

Josh MacAlister, recently promoted to parliamentary private secretary to senior cabinet minister Pat McFadden, first introduced the bill to the Commons last autumn. He remarked, “The evidence is mounting that children doomscrolling for hours a day is causing widespread harm.”

“We need the equivalent of the ‘seatbelt’ legislation for social media use for children. Parents are in an impossible bind over whether to ostracise their child from social media or expose them to the harms and addiction of content. Countries around the world are now taking bold action and our children risk being left behind.”

Supporters argue that Powell’s proposal could help Labor regain voter trust. Adam McNicholas, senior advisor at strategy consultancy Stonehaven and former Labor Party messaging director, commented, “Voters don’t expect the government to tell parents how to raise their kids – but, across party lines, they do expect help protecting children from smartphones. Doom scrolling, always-on notifications, and access to dangerous content have triggered a national conversation about the harm being caused to children with smartphones. This is a live kitchen table issue.”

With mounting public support and increasing concern over digital wellbeing, Powell’s bill could prove pivotal in reshaping how Britain’s youth engage with social media.