Thu 16 April 2026:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called on senior social media leaders to “step up” to keep children safe online.

“I know parents are worried about social media and its impact on their children’s safety. They rightly expect fast action. Today, I’m calling on senior leaders from X, Meta, Snap, YouTube and TikTok to step up,” Starmer wrote on US social media platform X.

He vowed to do “whatever it takes” to keep children safe online.

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Starmer’s remarks came as his office announced that he would bring leaders later in the day to “press for progress on one of the most urgent issues affecting children today,” according to a Prime Minister’s Office statement.

He is expected to point out that “looking the other way is not an option,” it said.

“When it comes to keeping young people safe online, the Prime Minister has been clear this is not a question of if the government will act, but how,” the statement added.

It said Starmer will specify government’s principles and values when it comes to protecting children during the meeting, “and press for answers from companies on what they are doing to keep children safe online and responding to families’ concerns.”

MPs vote against social media ban for under-16s a second time

British MPs have rejected a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media for the second time, as the prime minister summoned tech bosses to demand tougher action on internet safety

They voted by 256 to 150, a majority of 106, against a change to the bill brought by the Conservative peer Lord Nash. The Nash amendment had attempted to bring in a default ban, giving ministers 12 months to decide which platforms should be barred.

Keir Starmer is preparing to meet senior leaders at the social media companies TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, to demand swifter progress on internet safety.

Speaking before the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Starmer said: “Parents rightly expect action and fast. That’s why we’ve already taken the powers needed to move quickly once our consultation ends. I will take whatever steps necessary to keep children safe online. Today is about making sure social media companies step up and take responsibility.”

The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), an internet safety charity, said the solution was not a ban but a commitment to strengthening the Online Safety Act.

“It’s time to look beyond this false sense of safety and for the prime minister to decisively commit to strengthening regulation to make unsafe and addictive design a thing of the past,” said Andy Burrows, MRF’s chief executive.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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