British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told the heads of major social media platforms that "this situation cannot continue", during a Downing Street meeting on internet safety.
Starmer gathered senior representatives from Meta, TikTok, Google, Snapchat and X in London as the government considers new restrictions on the platforms, including a possible ban on under-16s, similar to Australia's model. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, while Google owns YouTube.
The British government is currently conducting a public consultation on setting a clear age limit for the use of social networks, as well as on possible restrictions on certain application functions, such as infinite scrolling.
During the meeting, Starmer stated that the current situation is unacceptable:
"This cannot continue, it must change, because currently social networks are putting our children at risk. In a world where children are protected, even if that means limiting access, that is better than a world where harm is the price of participation."
He added that he is determined to collaborate with technology companies to build a safer environment for young people, emphasizing that the question is not whether to act, but how to act.
The government is demanding "real changes in practice" from platforms, with the aim of increasing safety for children.
Starmer has previously expressed reluctance to the idea of a complete ban on social media for minors, warning that such a measure could push young people into unregulated spaces of the internet and leave them unprepared for using technology after the age of 16. Currently, most platforms set the minimum age limit at 13 for users in the UK.
However, political pressure on the prime minister has increased, including from his own party MPs, over 60 of whom have called for such a ban. Within the government, it is expected that a final decision will be made after consultations are completed over the summer.
On Wednesday, MPs rejected a House of Lords proposal to introduce an “age gate” on applications. Many Labour MPs who opposed the measure have said they are waiting for the results of the government consultation before supporting further steps.
John Nash, a Conservative peer, had proposed an amendment that would have imposed an automatic ban and given ministers 12 months to determine which platforms would be restricted. The proposal has already been defeated twice in the House of Commons.
The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Olivia Bailey, stated on behalf of the government that the current consultation is the most appropriate approach:
“Rather than a limited amendment like the House of Lords, our consultation allows us to address a wider range of services and functions. It also allows us to take into account different opinions, so it is essential not to bias the results.”
The government has also increased pressure on regulator Ofcom, which is enforcing the Online Safety Act. Last year, technology secretary Liz Kendall warned that the regulator risks losing public trust if it does not act more strongly against online harm.
This month, a new chairman of Ofcom, Ian Cheshire, former chairman of Channel 4, was appointed.
Google has declined to comment on the Downing Street meeting, while Meta, TikTok, Snap and X have been contacted for a statement. /GazetaExpress/
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