London (AFP) – UK leader Keir Starmer said Thursday he was “very keen” to tackle addictive features on social media following a landmark US ruling that found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman. Britain’s government is currently considering new restrictions for popular social media apps, as countries around the world grapple with how to keep children safe online.
Starmer said officials would study “very carefully” Wednesday’s decision by a jury in Los Angeles, which found that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design and operation of their platforms. The jurors ordered the companies to pay $6 million in damages, including $3 million in punitive damages, holding them accountable for the mental health toll of their design choices.
“The status quo isn’t good enough. We need to do more to protect children,” Starmer said during a visit to Finland. “I’m very keen that we do more on addictive features within social media,” he added.
The two chambers of Britain’s parliament are currently in a stand-off over whether the government should follow Australia and issue a blanket ban on social media for children under 16. The unelected upper House of Lords voted in favour of prohibiting social media for under-16s for a second time late Wednesday, piling pressure on the government to follow suit. MPs in the House of Commons, where Starmer’s Labour party enjoys a huge majority, have already rejected the proposal once.
Starmer has not ruled out a ban but is awaiting the outcome of a public consultation, due to close on May 26.
© 2024 AFP
