'Do One Decent Thing': Kevin Pietersen Hails Australia's Social Media Ban With A Message For Starmer

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 23:03 IST

Kevin Pietersen lauded Australia's new social media ban for children aged under 16 and called on British PM Keir Starmer to "do one decent thing" while in office.

English cricketer Kevin Pietersen and UK PM Keir Starmer. (Reuters/File)

English cricketer Kevin Pietersen on Wednesday lauded Australia’s social media ban for teenagers, and fired a salvo at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to do one decent thing during his “short stay at number 10."

This came after Australia’s proposed social media ban came into effect on Wednesday, officially barring children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measure on Wednesday, saying the country had “taken control back" from powerful tech companies.

“Well done, Australia for banning social media for kids! Time for you to step up @Keir_Starmer! Do one decent thing during your short stay at number 10! Just one thing please!" Pietersen wrote on X.

Pietersen’s tweet came as Starmer faces mounting criticism for his policies regarding illegal immigration in the UK and the cost-of-living crisis. Opinion polls suggest Starmer is deeply unpopular, perhaps even the most unpopular British prime minister in the history of modern opinion polling, according to BBC.

An Ipsos poll in September suggested that Starmer is the second least popular prime minister since the 1990s, beaten only by Liz Truss, who was in office for just 50 days.

Australia’s Social Media Ban

Australia’s new social media rules came into effect, under which platforms are required to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face heavy fines. As the law took effect, teenagers across the country lost access to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and several other platforms.

Albanese described the law as a world-first step aimed at protecting young people. He said Australia was showing that “enough is enough" when it comes to the bad influence of social media on children.

The ban covers Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Streaming services like Kick and Twitch are also included. YouTube was added to the list even though the government had earlier indicated it might be exempt due to its educational uses. For now, Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp remain allowed, but officials say the list is still being reviewed and may change.

Most companies have complied with the law, but many expressed concerns about its effects. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, warned that the ban could drive young people towards less regulated websites, putting them at greater risk.

News world 'Do One Decent Thing': Kevin Pietersen Hails Australia's Social Media Ban With A Message For Starmer

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