Keir Starmer has for the first time so explicitly backed the idea of banning the most addictive features in social media, saying that such mechanics “should not be permissible.”
The prime minister said the authorities “will have to intervene” in the operation of algorithms that keep children and teenagers hooked on apps—referring to infinite scroll and so-called “streaks,” which encourage daily use.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed that social platforms are “designed to keep the user engaged” and said that a government consultation would focus in particular on how to curb such addictive elements.
The remarks came against the backdrop of a court ruling in the United States against Meta and Google: the companies were found liable for a woman’s childhood addiction to social media and ordered to pay $6 million in damages. Both companies intend to appeal the verdict.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Starmer said: “This is about platforms trying to keep children on as long as possible, creating addiction. I see no justification for that, and that is why I believe we will have to act.”
He added that he was “open to discussing” a ban on social media for users under 16—a measure already adopted in Australia—but stressed that, whatever the outcome of the consultation, the policy would be revised.
“We will hold a consultation, but I want to be absolutely clear—things will not remain as they are. This will change. I do not think the next generation will forgive us for inaction,” he said.
Speaking on Sunday after the publication of new guidance on screen time for children under five, Phillipson said that several regulatory options were under consideration.
“Even for an adult, it is hard not to conclude that much of this is designed to capture and hold attention. For an adult, that is one thing, but we must think very seriously about what this means for the developing brains of very young children,” she said on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg.
Asked whether services are deliberately designed to be addictive, Phillipson said: “They are designed to keep the user engaged. That is their purpose, and through this consultation we are making it clear that we will examine addictive features and algorithmically generated content which, as we know, can harm the youngest users.”
She said a ban on such algorithms for younger users “is being considered as part of a broader consultation,” alongside questions of age restrictions, the digital age of consent and the regulation of algorithmically generated content.
As part of the consultation, hundreds of British teenagers will take part in a pilot programme in which they will test bans on social-media use, digital curfews and time limits in apps. For some of the 300 participants drawn from every region of the country, social apps will be disabled altogether—“replicating the enforcement of a social-media ban in the home setting.”
To date, nearly 30,000 parents and children have taken part in the consultation on digital well-being. It will conclude on May 26.