UK PM Pushes for Social Media Curbs to Protect Children
UK PM Pushes for Social Media Curbs to Protect Children
Britain weighs strict online safety moves as PM hints at curbs on under-16s' social media access following talks with major platforms.
Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer summoned senior technology chiefs to Downing Street on Thursday, pressing for tougher online safety measures for children and signaling possible restrictions on popular apps.
Starmer said things can't go on like this and that social media is putting children at risk, a stark warning delivered as he met executives from X, TikTok, Meta, Snap and Google. The session underscored mounting political pressure to curb young users' exposure online.
The government is weighing measures that could curb younger users' access and impose time limits or curfews, with discussions circling an Australia-style ban as a potential option if safer controls are not found. Ministers are consulting on a regulatory path that could redefine how platforms operate around youth safety.
The talks come as UK watchdogs press platforms to block children and as ministers consider stricter rules to guard minors online. The push reflects a broader global debate over youth protection in the digital age and follows related discussions about tightening safeguards across major networks.
While no final decision has been announced, the tone from Downing Street signals a potential turning point for how the UK regulates online spaces, especially for under-16 audiences.
