Keir Starmer says UK will ‘have to act’ to curb addictive features of social media | Social media ban
Keir Starmer has backed a ban on addictive social media features, saying they “should not be allowed” in his strongest ever intervention into restrictions on tech companies.
The Prime Minister said the government “must take action” on algorithms such as swiping that connects young people and children to social media, or “lines” that encourage daily use of apps.
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said social media was “designed to keep you there” and that the government will closely examine how addictive features can be addressed by consulting on social media use.
The comments follow a US lawsuit against Meta and Google that found the companies liable for a woman’s childhood social media addiction and awarded $6 million in damages. The companies plan to appeal.
In an interview with Sunday MirrorStarmer said: “This is platforms trying to get kids to stay online longer, to get them hooked. I can’t see there’s a case for that and so I can see that we need to take action.”
Starmer said he had an “open mind” about Australia’s social media ban on under-16s, but said there would be significant changes after consultation.
“We will continue to have talks, but I think I will be absolutely clear; things will not stay the way they are. This will change. I don’t think the next generation will forgive us if we don’t act now.”
Speaking after the government published new guidance on screen time for under-fives on Sunday, Phillipson said there were different options under consultation.
“As an adult, I think it’s hard to escape the conclusion that some of this is designed to get your attention and keep your attention. That’s one thing for an adult, but of course we have to think quite seriously about what this means for the developing brains of young children,” he told the BBC’s show with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.
Asked whether the sites were designed to be addictive, Phillipson said: “I think they’re intended to keep you there. I think that’s the intention at the moment and we’ve been clear through consultation that we’re going to be looking at addictive features and some algorithmically driven content that we know could be harmful to our youngest children.”
He said banning addictive algorithms for young users “is something we are considering through wider consultation on young people in general.” “We’re also looking at all the questions around social media and whether, in the age of digital consent, there will be an age limit on questions around addictive content, algorithmically driven content.”
During the consultation, hundreds of British teenagers will trial social media bans, digital curfews and time limits on apps as part of a government pilot. Some of the 300 young people from four UK countries will have their social apps disabled, “mimicking the enforcement of a social media ban at home”.
Nearly 30,000 parents and children responded to the government’s appeal digital wellbeing consultancyIt closes on May 26.
