UK Leaders Call Meta and YouTube Executives to Downing Street Over Child Safety
UK government officials are calling top executives from Meta, YouTube, and other social media companies to Downing Street to explain what they're doing to protect children online. The meeting comes as grieving parents whose children's deaths have been linked to social media prepare to deliver demands to government leaders.
UK government officials are summoning executives from major social media companies including Meta (which owns Instagram and Facebook) and YouTube to Downing Street for urgent talks about protecting children online.
The meetings come as parents whose children died in incidents linked to social media plan to deliver demands to government leaders alongside MPs from multiple political parties. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that platforms like Instagram and TikTok must stop letting young users waste hours scrolling through endless videos.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a complete social media ban for children under 16, saying it's "common sense" and warning that online culture is driving mental health problems among young people. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham backs the ban, but Downing Street has dismissed the idea, saying it has no current plans for such restrictions.
The government pressure reflects growing concerns about social media's impact on children's mental health and safety. Parents and politicians want companies to either restrict access by age or remove addictive features that keep young users glued to their screens.
If you have kids who use Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, new safety rules could change how these apps work. The government is under pressure to ban social media for children under 16 or force companies to remove features that keep kids scrolling for hours.
Social media executives will meet with government officials to discuss child safety measures and potential new regulations.
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