Social media leaders called to Downing Street over children’s safety
Social media leaders called to Downing Street over children’s safety
Key figures from major social media platforms will meet at Downing Street on Thursday to address concerns about online safety for children. Representatives from Meta, Snap, YouTube, TikTok, and X are anticipated to face questions from Sir Keir Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall regarding their efforts to safeguard young users and address parental worries.
Government consultation and international context
The gathering occurs during a government-led public consultation exploring potential restrictions on social media access for those under 16. This follows Australia’s implementation of similar measures, which have sparked debate about the effectiveness of such policies. Downing Street has not yet specified which representatives from the tech companies will attend the session.
“Starmer emphasized the meeting’s focus on ensuring social media companies take responsibility.”
He warned that the repercussions of inaction are significant, stating, “We owe it to parents and the next generation to prioritize children’s safety—because they won’t forgive us if we don’t.” While some platforms have already introduced features like default autoplay disablement for children and parental controls over screen time, Downing Street noted these steps as part of broader progress.
Reactions from MPs and experts
MPs in the UK rejected a proposal to ban social media for under-16s for the second time, despite support from peers in the House of Lords. Ministers argued that the ban was premature, as they were already evaluating their own regulatory measures. However, Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott criticized the decision, saying, “Labour MPs have once again failed parents and children by voting against a ban on social media for under-16s and against removing smartphones from schools.”
“The time for half-measures is over—we need action now to restrict the most harmful platforms for under-16s.”
Meanwhile, Prof Gina Neff of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at Cambridge University suggested the meeting allows the government to appear proactive. “This also lets the government remain firm on online harms, especially as geopolitical pressures have shifted, making it easier for US companies to avoid scrutiny,” she added.
Research and advocacy
Recent findings from the Molly Rose Foundation, an internet safety charity, revealed that over 60% of Australian youth under 16 still use social media despite a December 2025 ban. The foundation, founded by Molly Russell’s family after her 2017 suicide linked to online content, welcomed the UK meeting but urged concrete action.
“Keir Starmer must transform his welcoming rhetoric into a clear commitment in the King’s Speech to a new Online Safety Act that finally addresses business models prioritizing profit over safety,” said Andy Burrows, the charity’s CEO.
Prof Amy Orben, a digital mental health expert at Cambridge University, stressed the importance of holding platforms accountable. “Social media companies’ increasingly powerful algorithms have raised concerns across the population, with young users and parents reporting difficulty in disengaging from the online world,” she noted.
Consultation progress and next steps
The national consultation, which also examines age-based limits for gaming sites and AI chatbots, will conclude on 26 May. Downing Street reported over 45,000 responses and input from approximately 80 organizations, including schools and community groups.
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