Newspaper headlines: 'Social media firms hit back' and 'Arson attack on Starmer linked to Russia'
BBC News·2026-06-16·via BBC News
Several of Tuesday's papers lead on Sir Keir Starmer's plan to ban social media for under-16s, which was announced on Monday. The Guardian says social media firms have "hit back" at the prime minister, noting that Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, YouTube and Snapchat are among those criticising the move
The Times looks at some of the specifics, reporting that children will be barred from "livestreaming", while the government is considering a ban on "infinite scrolling and a curfew on night-time use" for 16 and 17-year-olds. The paper adds that ministers have "insisted" enforcement will be tougher in the UK than in Australia, where it reports "the majority of children" are still accessing banned apps
"Starmer's social media ban 'a rush job'" reads the headline of the Daily Telegraph. It is pointing to criticism being levelled at the prime minister by online safety campaigners and political opponents. The paper says officials are "concerned" the government has put itself at risk of legal challenge due to the speed at which the policy was drawn up, adding civil servants had just three weeks to analyse "the biggest public response to a consultation for more than a decade"
Similarly, the Metro says Sir Keir has won "praise and condemnation" for the proposal, which it describes as a "social media revolution". Its headline is a quote from the prime minister: "My ban will keep our kids safe"
Meanwhile, the i leads on the "plot to burn down Starmer's home", which it says is "linked to Russian mastermind". It comes after two men were found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property and a car connected to the prime minister
The arson attacks in May 2025 also lead the Independent. The paper reports that the two men - Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27 - were recruited by a Russian-speaking person known on Telegram as "El Money", who used them as "criminal proxies"
The Financial Times leads on its own investigation into the arson attacks. Lower down the front page, the paper reports on "stocks surging" as "an agreement between Iran and the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz raised hopes for an end to the energy crisis" triggered by the US-Israel war with Iran
Campaigners for the assisted dying bill are pictured on the front page of the Daily Express, under the headline: "Our hope has been restored". Labour MP Lauren is launching a fresh attempt at legalising assisted dying, after the previous iteration of the bill failed to pass through the House of Lords earlier this year
Tuesday's edition of the Daily Mirror marks 10 years since Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by. The paper uses the anniversary to launch a campaign called "Britain Talks", which it hopes will "help heal divisions in our society".
The Daily Mail reports on what it calls "the eight missed chances to save baby Preston", after a teacher was found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering the 13-month-old baby boy he adopted with his partner. The paper reports that over four months, the pair "physically, psychologically and sexually assaulted the child"
Preston Davey is also pictured on the front page of the Sun. "Betrayed" declared the paper's headline, saying the child had been "failed by the system"
Meanwhile the Daily Star reports on England's upcoming World Cup campaign. It reports that the partners of England's footballers "can't stay overnight with players" and have their "own HQ 1,400 miles away"
