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Our children's safety matters more than clicks, that's why if Big Tech won't do anything I will, writes Sir Keir Starmer

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Things can't go on like this, Starmer tells social media bosses

'Social media puts children at risk. We cant go on like this,' Starmer tells tech bosses

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"The way things are going, just a year in — I genuinely think he will leave. I think he will be forced out."

"Starmer might have to go in months."

"I don't think he will survive a year [as prime minister]."

"Of course [he will be prime minister till 2029]."

How Long Will Keir Starmer Be UK's Prime Minister?

Anthony Albanese

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Aaron Mackey

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Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with senior executives from Meta, X, Snap, TikTok and Google at Downing Street to press for stronger child safety measures online. The meeting came midway through the government's "Growing Up in the Online World" consultation, which has received more than 45,000 responses.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with senior executives from Meta, X, Snap, TikTok and Google at Downing Street to press for stronger child safety measures online. The meeting came midway through the government's "Growing Up in the Online World" consultation, which has received more than 45,000 responses.

Attendees at the Downing Street meeting included Kate Alessi of Google UK, Markus Reinisch of Meta, Wifredo Fernandez of X, Alistair Law of TikTok and Snap's Europe president Ronan Harris. Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall questioned the executives on their efforts to protect children online.

Attendees at the Downing Street meeting included Kate Alessi of Google UK, Markus Reinisch of Meta, Wifredo Fernandez of X, Alistair Law of TikTok and Snap's Europe president Ronan Harris. Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall questioned the executives on their efforts to protect children online.

Starmer told tech executives that "things can't go on like this" and that restricting children's access to social media would be "preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation." The government's consultation explores measures including an Australia-style ban for under-16s, limits on addictive features and stronger AI chatbot controls.

Starmer told tech executives that "things can't go on like this" and that restricting children's access to social media would be "preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation." The government's consultation explores measures including an Australia-style ban for under-16s, limits on addictive features and stronger AI chatbot controls.

UK MPs rejected a second House of Lords amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would have immediately banned under-16s from social media. Education minister Olivia Bailey said the government's consultation "allows us to address a much wider range of services and features" than the Lords amendment.

UK MPs rejected a second House of Lords amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would have immediately banned under-16s from social media. Education minister Olivia Bailey said the government's consultation "allows us to address a much wider range of services and features" than the Lords amendment.

Google UK managing director Kate Alessi said the company believes "blanket bans take choices away from parents and push kids out of supervised spaces." Some platforms have already introduced voluntary protections, including disabling autoplay for younger users and giving parents greater control over screen time.

Google UK managing director Kate Alessi said the company believes "blanket bans take choices away from parents and push kids out of supervised spaces." Some platforms have already introduced voluntary protections, including disabling autoplay for younger users and giving parents greater control over screen time.

Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge, called the Downing Street meeting "a stunt designed to distract from the fact that the Government told its own MPs to vote against raising the age limit." The government's consultation closes May 26, with changes pledged within months.

Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died while attempting an online challenge, called the Downing Street meeting "a stunt designed to distract from the fact that the Government told its own MPs to vote against raising the age limit." The government's consultation closes May 26, with changes pledged within months.

Starmer Presses Tech Giants on Child Online Safety

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Starmer Presses Tech Giants on Child Online Safety

UK: Starmer SummonsPresses Tech BossesGiants Overon SocialChild MediaOnline Safety

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