Charlie Alford

Campaigners warn Starmer’s social media ban will harm disabled kids

Post author:Rachel Charlton-Dailey
Post published:16 June 2026
Post last modified:16 June 2026

Charities and campaigners have warned that Keir Starmer’s plan to ban under-16s from social media will isolate disabled and LGBTQ+ children. This week, Labour prime minister announced new legislation to stop children from accessing apps like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube. The ban will take effect in Spring 2027 and restrict livestreams and ‘stranger communication’ for children, including on gaming sites. The ban won’t help any kids There are already concerns that, without regulating the tech companies, this will do very little to protect children from the dangers of the internet and punish them instead. The Canary’s Maddison Wheeldon argues that:…

Social media ban fails to tackle root causes of dangerous online misogyny

Post author:The Canary
Post published:15 June 2026
Post last modified:16 June 2026

Today the UK government has confirmed it will implement a long-anticipated ban on social media use for under-16s in the UK. As Maddison Wheeldon wrote for the Canary, this move does little for young people while letting big tech companies off the hook. And girls’ rights charity Plan International UK has added that the ban won’t keep girls safe. Because it fails to tackle the underlying causes of misogyny online. Morgan Griffith-David is senior influencing lead for UK Girls’ Rights at Plan International UK. Reacting to the confirmation of the ban on under-16s using social media in the UK, he said:…

Starmer has banned kids from social media instead of reining in capitalist big tech

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:15 June 2026
Post last modified:15 June 2026

PM Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for under-16s which will prevent access to apps like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Taking inspiration from Australia, the UK will introduce a similar ban to take effect from Spring 2027. However, the government will go further by restricting livestream and ‘stranger communication’ for children including on gaming sites. In his address, Starmer stated: All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, I think that’s what any parent wants. BREAKING: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer…

Farage announces plan to permanently duck the media

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:14 June 2026
Post last modified:14 June 2026

In April 2026, we learned that Nigel Farage had failed to declare a £5m ‘gift’ from a foreign-based crypto billionaire. Ever since then, the man has been doing everything he can to avoid media scrutiny. And now, motormouth Nigel Farage – the man who built a career out of taking every media appearance offered – has decided to become a f*cking blogger: When are you going to write an essay about the £5m? https://t.co/AYE6vIUx9k — Reform Party UK Exposed (@reformexposed) June 14, 2026 Farage — Man of words The first thing to note about Farage’s essay is that it’s 35,000 words…

Visa crisis threatens media coverage for the 2026 World Cup

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:7 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

As FIFA continues to promote the 2026 World Cup as the most expansive and inclusive tournament in history, a new crisis has emerged that could overshadow the long-awaited event. The International Sports Press Association has warned of significant difficulties facing dozens of accredited journalists in securing visas to enter the United States. In an official letter to FIFA media officials, the association revealed it has received an increasing number of complaints from accredited journalists—including a large group of Iranian journalists and those from various African nations—who have yet to secure the necessary visas, despite fulfilling all of the tournament’s media accreditation…

Western politicians and media heaps tributes on the author of Persepolis

Post author:The Canary
Post published:5 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Obituaries for Franco-Iranian artist and author of Persepolis Marjane Satrapi are pouring in from Western politicians and media following news of her death in Paris at age 56 on Thursday. Western establishments’ obituaries revealed a pattern of appreciating Satrapi for opposing Iran’s government, reflecting their ever-present instinct of Islamophobia. “Persepolis” was a bestselling graphic novel series by Satrapi. Most of them admire her as CNN puts it as: an outspoken critic of Iran’s ruling establishment and a prominent supporter of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement. Satrapi was married to Mattias Ripa, who helped translate ‘Persepolis’ into English. He died last year.…

Legacy media platforms ex-military figures without disclosing war industry links

Post author:Joe Glenton
Post published:5 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

British legacy media insist on platforming ex-military ‘experts’ without mentioning their war industry side-hustles — an issue the Canary has pointed out repeatedly. A deep-dive investigation has now revealed just how widespread the issue really is. In April 2026, the Canary reported that former Labour MP and ex-NATO chief Lord Robertson was platformed to talk about war spending without his long-standing links to the military industry being disclosed. You can read about here and here. NGO Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) on 3 June that an analysis of media reports between 2015 and May 2026: NGO Action on Armed Violence (AOAV)…

Corporate Western media appears to celebrate Israel’s Illegal occupation of Lebanon

Post author:HG
Post published:31 May 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Ethnic Cleansing — Several Western corporate media outlets have appeared to celebrate Israel’s illegal occupation of the Crusader-era Qal’at al-Shaqif Castle in southern Lebanon. “Captured a strategic mountain” At this point it sounds like AP is celebrating Israel’s unlawful occupation of Lebanon. https://t.co/b13dCVICHD — Assal Rad (@AssalRad) May 31, 2026 On Sunday, May 31, Israel issued more illegal forced displacement orders to all residents living south of the Zahrani River. The attack suggests that Israel is moving towards attacking the city of Nabatieh. Israel had issued more than 10 displacement orders in the last 24 hours. On Friday, the IOF crossed…

Epstein survivors fear reporting information about Andrew due to lack of faith in British police and media

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

Citing the lack of action taken by police authorities when Epstein was alive and the harassment seen in the British press, an American lawyer representing “multiple clients” has said these Epstein survivors will not speak to the police in the UK. Women who potentially have important information regarding disgraced paedo-prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor appear to feel unsafe at the prospect of coming forward. This relatable fear stems from a lack of faith in how the British police and the UK mainstream media would handle the case. Moreover, Brad Edwards highlighted the impact of subsequent press intrusion seen against a woman he…

‘Top’ French media pundits can’t name three living Chinese people

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

This is genuinely incredible and says SO SO MUCH about the perception of China in the West. This is the #1 news show in France, and the host – David Pujadas – asks the pundits around the table (a sample of the top media figures in France) if they can name 3 living Chinese… pic.twitter.com/gkkWxTKfni — Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) May 29, 2026 This selection of French media pundits was offered a simple challenge: name three living Chinese people. As you’d expect, a familiar response came: Xi Jinping; then… nothing. Rien. Juste l’embarras. These are not some random fellows interviewed vox-pop on…

Ireland’s communications minister hid attempts to pressure media regulator

Post author:Robert Freeman
Post published:24 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

As part of dodgy attempts to affect media coverage he was unhappy with, Fine Gael minister for communications Patrick O’Donovan held a call with Ireland’s media regulator “outside normal communication channels“. He then failed to disclose that the conversation took place. The Ditch reports that on Saturday April 11 O’Donovan spoke to Coimisiún na Meán’s (The Media Commission or CnaM) Rónán Ó Domhnaill to: …express concern regarding media coverage of the fuel protests and to ask whether there was a mechanism for the minister within the legislation to ask for an examination of the broadcast coverage of the protests. The protests…