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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

PM: No platform gets a free pass: Government takes action to keep children safe online

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Risks to children on social media cant go on like this, PM tells tech bosses

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Starmer summons X, TikTok and Meta bosses to No 10 as he pushes for further action on child safety online

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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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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?

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with senior executives from Meta, X, Snap, TikTok and Google at Downing Street on Thursday to call 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.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with senior executives from Meta, X, Snap, TikTok and Google at Downing Street on Thursday to call 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 U.K., Markus Reinisch of Meta, Wifredo Fernandez of X, Alistair Law of TikTok and Snap's Europe president Ronan Harris.

Attendees at the Downing Street meeting included Kate Alessi of Google U.K., Markus Reinisch of Meta, Wifredo Fernandez of X, Alistair Law of TikTok and Snap's Europe president Ronan Harris.

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.

Google UK managing director Kate Alessi has 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 has 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.

This comes as U.K. MPs <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://verity.news/story/2026/uk-mps-reject-social-media-ban-for-unders">rejected a second House of Lords amendment</a> to immediate under-16s from social media. However powers have already been pasted to, in theory, restrict or ban children of certain ages from accessing social media services and chatbots.

This comes as U.K. MPs rejected a second House of Lords amendment to immediate under-16s from social media. However powers have already been pasted to, in theory, restrict or ban children of certain ages from accessing social media services and chatbots.

Education minister Olivia Bailey has stated that the government will only take prospective action following the end of its public consultation, which closes on May 26.

Education minister Olivia Bailey has stated that the government will only take prospective action following the end of its public consultation, which closes on May 26.

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Social media companies have had years to fix their platforms and have done nowhere near enough — kids are being exposed to harmful content and addictive design while Big Tech drags its feet. The status quo is failing British families, and government action isn't overreach, it's a necessity. If these companies can't prove their products are safe quickly, swift regulation is the only responsible move.

Social media companies have had years to fix their platforms and have done nowhere near enough — kids are being exposed to harmful content and addictive design while Big Tech drags its feet. The status quo is failing British families, and government action isn't overreach, it's a necessity. If these companies can't prove their products are safe quickly, swift regulation is the only responsible move.

Luke Charters MP

Blanket bans and heavy-handed government crackdowns on teen social media don't make kids safer — they just push them toward darker, less regulated corners of the internet. The science shows moderate social media use actually supports adolescent wellbeing, and teen depression rates are already falling even as usage holds steady. Real solutions mean smarter guardrails and parental tools, not performative political theater.

Blanket bans and heavy-handed government crackdowns on teen social media don't make kids safer — they just push them toward darker, less regulated corners of the internet. The science shows moderate social media use actually supports adolescent wellbeing, and teen depression rates are already falling even as usage holds steady. Real solutions mean smarter guardrails and parental tools, not performative political theater.

Starmer Presses Tech Giants on Child Online Safety

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Social media companies have had years to fix their platforms and have done nowhere near enough, with Big Tech profiteering as are kids exposed to harmful content. Starmer's message is a necessary final straw: if these companies can't prove their products are safe quickly, swift regulation is the only responsible move to protect British society.

Social media companies have had years to fix their platforms and have done nowhere near enough, with Big Tech profiteering as are kids exposed to harmful content. Starmer's message is a necessary final straw: if these companies can't prove their products are safe quickly, swift regulation is the only responsible move to protect British society.

This well-intentioned intervention is the wrong approach by Starmer. Big Tech is out of control, but there is no causational evidence that a social media ban is either enforceable or will positively impact chilld mental health. Instead of a blanket ban, the government must use and enhance the powers they already have to compel a healthy, age-appropriate digital environment for youth.

This well-intentioned intervention is the wrong approach by Starmer. Big Tech is out of control, but there is no causational evidence that a social media ban is either enforceable or will positively impact chilld mental health. Instead of a blanket ban, the government must use and enhance the powers they already have to compel a healthy, age-appropriate digital environment for youth.

Big Tech bashing will not solve online safety concerns. Social media platforms have spent years applying state-of-the-art guardrails to protect children whilst empowering adults to make their own decisions. Starmer can lecture all he likes but a ban will only damage bsuiness relations, reduce youth connectively and leave everyone worse off.

Big Tech bashing will not solve online safety concerns. Social media platforms have spent years applying state-of-the-art guardrails to protect children whilst empowering adults to make their own decisions. Starmer can lecture all he likes but a ban will only damage bsuiness relations, reduce youth connectively and leave everyone worse off.

There is a 56% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be U.K. prime minister in 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 56% chance that Keir Starmer will cease to be U.K. prime minister in 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK: Starmer Summons Tech Bosses Over Child Online Safety

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UK: Starmer Summons Tech Bosses Over Child Online Safety

UK: Starmer Summons Tech Bosses Over Child Online Safety

UK: Starmer PressesSummons Tech GiantsBosses onOver Child Online Safety

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UK: Starmer Summons Tech Bosses Over Child Online Safety

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