British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has accused wealthy social media owners of making money from “divisiveness, strife, hatred and toxicity” as the government considers new measures aimed at protecting children online.Speaking during LADbible’s ‘Happening Now’ series of discussions in London, Lammy said social media platforms had contributed to growing concerns about the wellbeing of young people, and said governments across the Western world had failed to respond effectively.“I feel very strongly that when we talk about social media, there are ultimately a lot of billionaires and wealthy men making a lot of money and exploiting division and strife and hate and toxicity,” Lamy said.These comments came during a panel discussion on the challenges facing young people, including economic pressures, loneliness and opportunities for social mobility. The influential event was also attended by Jim Chapman, suicide prevention campaigner Ben West, and Sarah Sternberg, director of men’s health charity Movember.Lammy said society has been aware of the risks associated with harmful online content for years but has struggled to address the issue.
“When it was harmful, we were unable to act successfully,” he said. “We’ve been aware of this problem for many years. I think this is a failure as a society.”His statements come as the government is considering new online safety measures for children. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ministers could strengthen legislation if tech companies fail to introduce device-level controls preventing children from sending or receiving nude images.Recent reports also indicated that the government is considering imposing restrictions on social media use for children under 16 following a nationwide consultation.Lammy said more than 100,000 people participated in the consultation process, and claimed that most parents support stronger protection measures.“Nine out of ten parents want support in this area,” he said. “They know, they worry, they worry.”A LADbible survey of 2,000 people aged 18-34, including 1,500 men and 500 women, found that 86% of young people believe it is more difficult than ever to get ahead financially, although 84% still believe that hard work can create opportunities. Drawing on his experience as a justice minister and a father of three, Lammy said concerns about social media often focused on what young people face online when adults are absent.“It’s social media at night that keeps you awake,” he said, adding that parents are often unable to see or respond to the anxiety, loneliness or harmful content that children experience online.Lammy also linked online harms to wider social challenges, including youth crime and inequality, saying he regularly sees the impact on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through the justice system.He said protecting children online should not become a partisan issue and called for a broader political consensus.He said: “There is a politics of grievance practiced in this space, and it conveys a lot of anxiety, pain, sadness and conflict, but there are not many solutions.” “This has to be so important that it is above politics.”