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Politics
Apr 16, 2026

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Urges Meta, TikTok, Google and X to Overhaul Child‑Safety Measures After No 10 Meeting

AI Summary
In a high‑profile Downing Street meeting, Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned executives from Meta, TikTok, Google and X that current practices endanger children and must change. The government is consulting on an under‑16 age limit and other safeguards, while Parliament debates the scope of any ban and Ofcom prepares to enforce the Online Safety Act.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened senior leaders from Meta, TikTok, Google and X at No 10 on Thursday to discuss the escalating child‑safety crisis on social platforms. He told the executives that "things can’t go on like this" and that immediate reforms are essential to protect minors.

The meeting comes as the UK government launches a formal consultation on imposing a firm age limit for social‑media users, echoing Australia’s recent ban for under‑16s. The proposal also examines curbing design features such as infinite scrolling that encourage prolonged use.

Starmer emphasized that restricting access for younger users is preferable to allowing ongoing harm, stating that a future where children are shielded—even at the cost of reduced participation—is the goal. He added that the challenge lies not in the decision to act, but in determining the most effective implementation strategy.

While the prime minister has previously cautioned that a blanket ban could push teenagers toward the dark web, pressure from within his own party has intensified. More than 60 Labour backbenchers recently signed a letter urging a ban, and many expect Starmer to endorse the measure once the consultation concludes this summer.

Parliament’s recent actions illustrate the split view: MPs rejected a House of Lords amendment that would have introduced an automatic age gate, preferring to await the government’s response to the consultation. A separate Conservative‑led amendment proposing a twelve‑month trial of platform bans was also defeated in the Commons.

Early education minister Olivia Bailey defended the consultation approach, arguing it allows a broader assessment of services and features than the narrow amendment proposed in the Lords.

The government is also pressing Ofcom, the communications regulator tasked with enforcing the Online Safety Act, to act decisively. Last year, technology secretary Liz Kendall warned that Ofcom risked losing public trust if it failed to curb online harms. This month she appointed former Channel 4 chair Ian Cheshire as the new Ofcom chair to steer the regulator through this critical period.

Google declined to comment on the No 10 meeting, while Meta, TikTok and X have been approached for responses.