Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to tackle 'addictive features' in social media, signalling a tougher UK regulatory stance after a landmark US court ruling held Meta and YouTube liable for harms caused by addictive technology. The verdict in a California court, which awarded $6m (£4.5m) in damages to a woman who became hooked on social media as a child, has intensified pressure on the government to act.
Starmer said the ruling reflected a growing public demand for stricter regulation. 'The status quo isn't good enough. We need to do more to protect children. That's why we're consulting about issues such as banning social media for under-16s. I'm very keen that we do more on addictive features within social media,' he stated.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hailed the verdict as 'a reckoning', saying in a statement: 'For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach. Let this be the change – where our children’s safety is finally prioritised above profit.'
Google, which owns YouTube, said it would appeal, arguing the case 'misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site'. Meta also said it disagreed with the verdict and was evaluating legal options. However, campaigners and experts warned the ruling could reshape tech regulation globally.
The Molly Rose Foundation, set up after the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, said the government could 'make safety and wellbeing the price for tech firms to pay for doing business in the UK'. Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London added: 'It’s fine to have policies regarding who can use your service, but if these policies can’t be enforced, that is putting the people at risk.'
