Keir Starmer promised me he would end the harm caused by social media. But this ban betrays that promise | Ian Russell

Time and time again, the PM has failed to take on big tech. With this plan, he is taking an easy way out and giving parents false hope

• Ian Russell is an internet safety campaigner and chair of the Molly Rose Foundation

More than eight years ago my youngest daughter, Molly, died after being bombarded with suicide and self-harm material on social media. I had hope that Keir Starmer would finally take the measures needed to address the harm Molly was subjected to, but his social media ban for under-16s leaves me desperately worried for the safety of children online.

Instead of tackling the product safety issues that cost my daughter’s life, he is choosing to take a politically easy route which the evidence shows – and experts warn – will not work, and will leave children at continued risk.