The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has called for a ban on social media for under-16s, referring to it as an “absolute cesspit.” Her remarks came at a screening of an ITV documentary exploring her daughter’s life and murder by two 15-year-old schoolchildren. In the documentary, Esther Ghey discusses the impact of social media on Brianna’s mental health and her attempts to find answers from social media companies about safety measures. Brianna, who had a significant presence on TikTok, was lured to a park in Cheshire where she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both of whom have been sentenced to life in prison. Jenkinson was motivated partly by Brianna’s transgender identity. Ghey supports Australia’s recent law banning under-16s from social media, citing her own negative experiences with online interactions and the content available to young people. The documentary also features interviews with a former Meta engineering director who speaks on the helplessness of users against harmful algorithms. Ghey, who founded Peace & Mind UK to promote mindfulness in schools, expressed hope that social media companies would prioritize users’ safety over profits. Meta, X, and TikTok have been contacted for comment on the matter.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/23/brianna-ghey-mother-esther-calls-for-social-media-ban-for-the-under-16s