The Chancellor selected the favored Gen-Z social media platform TikTok to make a vital announcement – nevertheless it’s an enormous blunder, writes Emily Wright.
The Chancellor selected the favored Gen-Z social media platform to make her announcement. (Picture: Getty)
At the beginning of this yr, the Authorities introduced a session on how you can enhance kids’s relationships with cellphones and social media. Among the many key points the session, which opened on March 2 and can shut subsequent week, is looking for views on whether or not there ought to be a ban on social media for kids.
So why did Rachel Reeves determine that TikTok, of all locations – the social media website the place over half of its consumer base is below 30 – to announce that kids aged between 5 and 15 would obtain free bus journey throughout England throughout August? The Chancellor is already within the doghouse over the announcement, with Deputy Speaker Judith Cummins scolding her for telling TikTok in regards to the new Authorities coverage earlier than the general public on Thursday (Might 21). Based on the Ministerial Code, which governs how ministers ought to behave, coverage bulletins ought to be made first in Parliament.
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“I’ve to say to the Chancellor that Mr Speaker has checked the Ministerial Code and it makes clear that necessary coverage bulletins ought to be made within the first occasion on this Home when it’s sitting,” Ms Cummins mentioned. “This Home and its members ought to be the primary to know what the Authorities is doing, not TikTok.
“Posting movies on social media asserting new insurance policies earlier than informing this Home isn’t consistent with the Authorities’s personal guidelines. This can be a new parliamentary session, and ministers should do higher.”
Earlier within the day, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle had given the same rebuke to Treasury minister Lucy Rigby, complaining about insurance policies being “drip-fed to the media”. Sir Lindsay mentioned: “These backbenchers of both facet are elected to this Home to listen to it first, to not be exterior a Morrisons petrol station, to not be on a bus, not doing it on TikTok.”
Ms Rigby mentioned she would make sure the Speaker’s feedback have been “fed again to the whole lot of the ministerial staff”.
I am a agency believer in “observe what you preach”. If the Labour Authorities is seeking to ban social media for under-16s, why on Earth would Ms Reeves’ staff suppose that launching a TikTok account to instantly tackle the UK’s youngest be a good suggestion? It reeks of desperation to look “down with the children” and safe their vote, nevertheless it additionally utterly undermines the picture the Authorities is attempting to create of them taking care of younger individuals on-line. That is one other clear instance that this Authorities doesn’t suppose issues by way of earlier than they hit publish.
@rachelreevesmp NEW: Free bus journey for youths this summer season! TikTok, I wished you to be the primary to listen to that I’m asserting free bus journey for youths this summer season. ☀️ Each baby aged 5-15 in England will journey free on collaborating native buses all through August, with limitless journeys, no registration required, and no price to households. I do know that the price of residing stays robust for households, and so I’m stepping in to ensure children can nonetheless expertise the little joys this summer season. Share this with somebody who must know there’s free bus journey for youths this summer season! #breakingnews #ukpolitics #buses ♬ Strolling Round – Instrumental Model – Eldar Kedem
Defending kids and younger individuals from content material equivalent to unhealthy body-image, consuming problems, violence and nudity is likely one of the primary goals of the On-line Security Act, which grew to become legislation in 2023. Regardless of a lot of the 2023 act now being applied, there are ongoing considerations about kids’s on-line security, together with their use of social media.
Based on Ofcom statistics in 2025, the age group that makes use of social media most regularly is 13 to fifteen (95%), with 96% having their very own social media profile. Much more worryingly, 37% of these aged 3 to five use social media, with 60% having their very own profile. The minimal age to create and use a TikTok account is 13, with restrictions for these aged 13 to fifteen.
these stunning statistics, one has to surprise why Ms Reeves would prioritise TikTok over the Home of Commons to announce her plans. It is each contradictory and sends an extremely inconsistent message to younger individuals about the place the individuals elected to symbolize them stand on social media use.
Additionally on Thursday, Ofcom has criticised TikTok and YouTube, saying in a brand new report their content material feeds are “not protected sufficient” for kids. The regulator added it will be sharing its considerations that websites weren’t successfully imposing minimal age guidelines with Sir Keir Starmer’s Authorities, whose session on whether or not to ban social media for under-16s will finish on Might 26.
In her TikTok video – the primary on her newly launched profile – Ms Reeves mentioned: “Hello TikTok! I would like you to be the primary to know that this summer season for youths aged between 5 and 15 there’s going to be free journey in England, and that is simply one of many issues that we’re doing to assist individuals with the price of residing in these unsure occasions.”
Matthew Vickers, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Social gathering and Shadow Minister of State for Unlawful Immigration, Crime, Policing and Fireplace, instructed the Specific: “If Labour are utilizing TikTok to get by way of to children as younger as 5, it begs the query of whether or not they’re actually severe about banning social media for under-16s.
“What subsequent? Tweeting at toddlers?”
The Specific has contacted The Treasury for remark.
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