Keir Starmer has told social media bosses “things can’t go on like this” in a Downing Street meeting over internet safety.
The prime minister summoned senior figures at Meta, TikTok, Google and X to No 10 on Thursday morning as his government considers imposing new restrictions on platforms, including an Australia-style ban for under-16s. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google owns YouTube.
The government is consulting on setting a firm social media age limit alongside potential limitations on app features such as infinite scrolling.
Starmer told executives: “Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk. In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.”
He added: “I am determined we will build a better future for our children, and look forward to working with you on this. I do think this can be done. I think the question is not whether it is done, the question is how it is done.”
Starmer has previously been sceptical about the idea of a social media ban, worrying that it could push young people on to the dark web and leave teenagers ill-equipped to use technology wisely once they turn 16. Popular social media apps set an age limit of 13 for UK users.
In recent weeks, however, pressure has mounted on the prime minister, not least from his own backbenchers, more than 60 of whom recently signed a letter calling for a ban. Many within government expect the prime minister to sign up to a ban once the consultation is complete this summer.
On Wednesday, MPs rejected a House of Lords move to impose an age gate on apps. Many of the Labour MPs who voted that down say they want to see the government’s response to its consultation before making another move.
John Nash, a Conservative peer, had tabled an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill that would have brought in a default ban and given ministers 12 months to decide which platforms should be barred. This has now been rejected twice in the Commons.
Olivia Bailey, the government’s early education minister, representing the government in the Commons on Wednesday, insisted that the consultation with its range of potential outcomes was the best way forward.
“Instead of the narrow amendment proposed in the House of Lords, our consultation allows us to address a much wider range of services and features,” she said. “It also allows us to consider the different views about the way to move forward, and that’s why it’s crucial that we do not pre-empt the government’s consultation.”
The government has put pressure on Ofcom, the communications regulator, which is implementing the Online Safety Act, the main law for reining in social media platforms. Last year the technology secretary, Liz Kendall, warned the watchdog it was at risk of losing public trust if it failed to use its powers to tackle online harms.
This month Kendall appointed a new Ofcom chair, Ian Cheshire, a former Channel 4 chair.
Google declined to comment on the No 10 meeting. Meta, TikTok and X have been approached for comment.
