FAILURE to enforce a social media ban on under-16s would have “truly horrific consequences”, MPs have warned.
The Education Committee said PM Sir Keir Starmer must act “before it’s too late” as tech firms could not be trusted to self-regulate.
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The Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MPs said toxic algorithms led to addictive doom-scrolling.
In a report, they said the impact was “widespread, severe and systemic”.
Committee chair Helen Hayes said: “The same platforms that connect them to their friends, or introduce them to new hobbies, are putting their mental health and wellbeing at risk.”
She said she did not believe firms profiting from interactions with kids “can be relied upon to self-regulate”, adding: “Ministers must take action”.
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The meeting took place as parents met the PM to discuss online safety.
Joe Ryrie, of the Smartphone Free Childhood group, said: “There was clear recognition the relationship between children and social media is not working and that bold action is needed.”
