Keir Starmer has expressed his concerns to social media executives during a meeting at Downing Street, stating that the current state of affairs is unacceptable as calls grow for more stringent regulations within the sector.
The government is exploring the possibility of enforcing an age limit of 16 for social media users, along with other measures aimed at curtailing app usage among younger audiences.
During the meeting with high-ranking representatives from Meta, Google, TikTok, X, and Snap on Thursday, Starmer reiterated the urgent need for tech companies to prioritize online safety for minors. He remarked, “This situation is not sustainable; there must be change because social media poses a risk to our children. It is preferable to limit access to ensure their safety rather than allowing harm to be a consequence of engagement.” He further emphasized his expectation for these companies to deliver tangible improvements that enhance the safety of their platforms for young users.
The participating companies refrained from commenting on the meeting; however, they have previously implemented several measures aimed at protecting children online. For instance, Meta has introduced accounts for teenagers on Instagram, while TikTok offers a family pairing option that enables parents to manage their children’s screen time.
These platforms are also required to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates that services used by children must actively mitigate the dissemination of harmful content, including violent or abusive material. Additionally, content categories such as pornography, self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders must be entirely excluded from children’s feeds.
Starmer, however, insists that social media companies need to take more proactive steps to ensure user safety. The government is currently reviewing public feedback on a potential minimum age requirement of 16 for social media access. While most platforms set a user age limit of 13, enforcement of this rule remains a significant concern for policymakers. The consultation has garnered 47,000 responses and is also considering age restrictions on addictive features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and push notifications. The government plans to act quickly based on the consultation’s findings, which will close on May 26.
Meanwhile, the House of Lords is attempting to push for an age restriction by amending an education bill to include a default ban, which would give ministers a year to determine which platforms should be subject to this age limit. This amendment has faced rejection from MPs on two occasions, but John Nash, the Conservative peer supporting it, has indicated his intention to revive the proposal.
Starmer has expressed reservations about implementing a blanket ban on social media access for those under 16, as the Prime Minister has raised concerns that such a measure might drive teenagers to the dark web or leave them unprepared to engage responsibly with social media when they reach the age of 16.
However, the recent social media ban in Australia has shifted the political landscape, leading to increased pressure from Labour MPs and some cabinet members to adopt similar measures in the UK. In January, over 60 Labour MPs urged the Prime Minister to endorse a ban.
This year, Starmer managed to mitigate potential dissent by initiating a consultation on regulating social media use among teenagers. While the Prime Minister has not disclosed his position on the consultation options, many MPs anticipate he will support the under-16 ban, given the growing consensus within his party that this is the most viable approach.
The Molly Rose Foundation, a prominent online safety charity, has criticized the proposed under-16 ban, arguing that it unfairly punishes children for the shortcomings of tech companies. Established by the family of Molly Russell, a teenager who tragically took her life after encountering harmful online content, the foundation advocates for social media firms to enhance platform safety and for the government to strengthen the Online Safety Act. Conversely, Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, has called for smartphones for those under 16, complete with social media restrictions. This proposal has received support from Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England.
