UK government summons social media leaders over children's safety

Top executives from major social media companies were called to Downing Street on Thursday to discuss measures to protect children online amid growing public and political pressure.

The meeting was led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.

Representatives from Meta, Snap, YouTube, TikTok, and X attended the discussions, where they were questioned on their efforts to safeguard children and address parental concerns.

The government is currently consulting on whether to ban social media use for under-16s, following similar policies introduced in Australia.

Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of social media companies taking responsibility, stating that "the consequences of failing to act are stark" and that protecting children is a priority for the next generation.

Number 10 acknowledged that some companies have already implemented protections such as disabling autoplay for children by default and enhancing parental controls over screen time.

This meeting comes amid ongoing debates in Parliament, where MPs recently rejected calls to ban social media for under-16s, arguing that the government should first consider its own regulatory measures.

The vote followed concerns from opposition figures who criticized the government for not acting swiftly enough to address online harms.

Experts like Professor Gina Neff from the University of Cambridge view the meeting as a strategic move by the government to demonstrate leadership on online safety, especially given geopolitical pressures related to US tech companies.

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