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Prime Minister confronts tech executives over child safety
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told social media leaders during a Downing Street meeting that current online protections for children are unacceptable, urging immediate action to address growing concerns.
Key figures in attendance
The meeting, held on Thursday, included senior executives from major platforms: Google UK managing director Kate Alessi, Meta's public policy chief Markus Reinisch, and X's global government affairs director Wifredo Fernandez. TikTok's Alistair Law and Snap's Europe president Ronan Harris also participated.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall joined Starmer in questioning how companies plan to enhance child safety on their platforms.
Government's stance on social media risks
Starmer emphasized that while he believes social media can be made safer, restricting access for children may be necessary if platforms fail to act. "Curbing access would be preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation," he stated.
The government is currently consulting on whether to ban social media for under-16s, following Australia's lead, where a similar ban was introduced in December 2025. However, UK MPs rejected the proposal for a second time on Wednesday, arguing that existing measures need refinement before considering a full ban.
Parental and expert concerns
Ahead of the meeting, Downing Street acknowledged that some companies had taken steps to improve safety, such as disabling auto-play for children and giving parents more control over screen time. Yet, Starmer cited mounting evidence linking social media to issues like disrupted sleep, impaired concentration, and negative impacts on children's relationships and worldviews.
"Parents aren't asking for tweaks at the edges-they're questioning whether a system that clearly isn't working for children should be allowed to continue at all,"
Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
Criticism and calls for stronger action
Prof Gina Neff of the University of Cambridge suggested the meeting was partly a strategic move to demonstrate government leadership amid geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott accused Labour MPs of failing parents by opposing a ban on social media for under-16s and removing smartphones from schools.
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson urged immediate action, stating, "The time for half-measures is over-we need restrictions on the most harmful platforms for under-16s now."
Research highlights enforcement challenges
A study by the Molly Rose Foundation, an internet safety charity, found that over 60% of underage Australians continue using social media despite the country's ban. The foundation, established by the family of Molly Russell-a 14-year-old who died by suicide in 2017 after viewing harmful content-has campaigned against adopting a similar ban in the UK.
"Keir Starmer must turn his rhetoric into action with a clear commitment in the King's Speech to a new Online Safety Act that prioritizes safety over profit,"
Andy Burrows, CEO, Molly Rose Foundation
Broader consultation underway
The government's national consultation, which also explores age restrictions for gaming sites and AI chatbots, will close on 26 May. Downing Street reported receiving over 45,000 responses, along with input from 80 organizations, including schools and community groups.
Digital mental health expert Prof Amy Orben stressed the need to hold companies and their business models accountable, noting that algorithms designed to maximize engagement have raised widespread concerns about young people's ability to disengage from online platforms.
