Starmer summons TikTok, Meta and X chiefs to No 10 on children's online safety
Starmer summons TikTok, Meta and X chiefs to No 10 on children's online safety
Sir Keir Starmer presses TikTok, Meta, and X to boost protections for young users, warning that looking the other way is not an option.
Sir Keir Starmer will meet with the bosses of TikTok, Meta, and X at No 10 Downing Street to push for stronger safeguards for children online. The talks signal a high-stakes push to reset how platforms handle under-18 users, with the Prime Minister underscoring that children’s safety cannot be left to chance.
The plan reportedly includes stricter age checks, tighter limits on targeted ads to under-18s, expanded safety features, and clearer reporting paths for abusive content. Officials have hinted at new duties on platforms to verify age, improve moderation, and offer clearer parental controls.
Starmer warns that failing to act could have 'stark' consequences for kids and for trust in digital platforms. He has framed the issue as a test for the tech giants’ willingness to cooperate with tougher rules.
Tech firms have previously pledged to improve safety tools, but critics say progress remains uneven. Observers say the meeting signals a shift toward more government-led accountability and closer scrutiny of how platforms balance safety with user rights.
