‘Why would you put a toxic product into the hands of a young child?’: Director Turned Activist Beeban Kidron on Big Tech’s ‘Tobacco Moment’
Why would you put a toxic – Beeban Kidron’s office in north London is nestled between a school and a nursery, its windows open to the sounds of children’s laughter. The atmosphere is one of gentle chaos, a reminder of the world she’s now fighting to protect. As a former film director and crossbench peer, her work has always centered on storytelling, but today the narrative is more urgent: the safety of young people in an era dominated by screens. Her latest project, a book titled Users, captures the emotional and intellectual journey that has led her to confront the influence of big tech on childhood.
A Shattered Trust
Kidron’s transformation from filmmaker to activist began with a personal crisis. She recounts a moment that still haunts her, one that underscores the stakes of her mission. “I have seen a lot of things I’d rather not see,” she says, her voice steady but laced with emotion. “But the worst thing was not the most extreme. It was watching a child’s face as she realized that the person she thought was her friend wasn’t her friend. That the sex acts she’d been doing weren’t for her friend. And that there may have been other people in the room.”
“I watched her face and I watched her crumble. It was her spirit, her trust, her sense of who she was, her judgment. All those things that make us human, smashed.”
The scene is visceral, a stark contrast to the polished world of Hollywood where she once thrived. Kidron’s book, Users, isn’t just a collection of grievances—it’s a blend of anger and insight, peppered with moments of levity. Her past life as a director of films like Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason collides with her current mission, creating a unique narrative. One anecdote, for instance, ends with her old friend Elton John mocking the then technology secretary, Peter Kyle, on live television. Yet, despite the humor, her message remains serious: the need for accountability in tech.
The 5Rights Foundation
The foundation she co-founded, 5Rights, is the result of her 2012 documentary exploring how smartphones were reshaping childhood. That work laid the groundwork for her activism, taking her from Silicon Valley boardrooms to the Vatican. The scope of her efforts reflects the scale of the challenge—big tech’s influence spans global politics, culture, and the very fabric of human interaction.
In Users, Kidron paints a picture of an industry out of control, but she also offers hope. The book is a rallying cry, urging readers to recognize their power. “In an attention economy,” she argues, “individuals have the ultimate sanction: to withdraw our attention from platforms desperate for it.” This idea is central to her mission, a call to action that goes beyond blaming the tech giants alone.
Political Negligence
Her frustration extends to the political class, which she views as complicit in the crisis. “This is an absolute cry of rage against the political class,” she says, reflecting on the failure of successive governments to protect both children and adults from tech’s grip. The book is a critique of policies that prioritize profit over people, with Kidron pointing to the erosion of privacy and the normalization of harmful content.
She highlights the role of tech funding in shaping political agendas, citing Tony Blair’s eponymous institute as a notable example. “The money flowing into such organizations,” she notes, “suggests that tech is somehow special, beyond the reach of ordinary rules and taxes.” This perspective is reinforced by her recollection of a roundtable on cyberbullying hosted by Prince William, where a Facebook executive—unnamed in the text—snapped that the industry “will not be regulated from a small town in England.” The comment, she implies, reflects a broader disdain for local governance in the face of global tech power.
Changing the Narrative
Kidron’s efforts are beginning to bear fruit. The recent resignation of Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, marked a turning point in the political discourse. Phillips accused Keir Starmer of not doing enough to challenge big tech, a sentiment echoed by parents grieving their children’s deaths linked to social media. Shortly after our conversation, Wes Streeting announced a proposal to ban social media for under-16s, narrowly ahead of government measures still in development.
Yet, for Kidron, the battle is far from over. “I am watching the bereaved parents,” she says, “and it’s getting a bigger and bigger group. I used to have them all on What…” Her sentence trails off, but the meaning is clear: the crisis is escalating, and the urgency to act remains. She believes that without systemic change, the damage will continue.
Her book is not just a critique—it’s a blueprint for resistance. By connecting the dots between tech’s influence on children and its broader impact on society, Kidron challenges readers to see the bigger picture. “Come for the children,” she jokes, “stay for humanity.” The line is a reminder that the fight against big tech isn’t just about protecting the next generation; it’s about preserving the essence of what it means to be human.
Even as progress is made, Kidron is cautious. She acknowledges that many in power have shifted their stance, but she insists that partial victories aren’t enough. “Everyone who has been in a position of power is now on my side of the argument,” she concedes. “But that’s why I’ve written this book—to say we can’t be happy about one victory.” Her message is clear: the time for incremental change is passing. A ‘tobacco moment’ for tech is needed, one that forces the industry to reckon with its consequences.
As the conversation ends, the sounds of children playing outside her office remain a constant backdrop. It’s a reminder of the stakes, and of the hope that lies in the struggle. Kidron’s work is a testament to the power of storytelling—transforming personal tragedy into a call for collective action. Whether it’s through her films, her activism, or her book, she is determined to ensure that the next generation grows up in a world where technology serves, rather than undermines, their well-being.
