UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has accused wealthy social media owners of making money from “division, conflict, hate and toxicity” as the government weighs new measures aimed at protecting children online.Speaking during LADbible’s ‘Happening Now’ discussion series in London, Lammy said social media platforms had contributed to growing concerns about the wellbeing of young people and argued that governments across the Western world had failed to respond effectively.“I feel very strongly that when we’re talking about social media, in the end there are a lot of billionaires, wealthy men making a lot of money and monetising division, conflict, hate and toxicity,” Lammy said.The comments came during a panel discussion on challenges facing young men, including economic pressures, loneliness and opportunities for social mobility. The event also featured influencer Jim Chapman, suicide prevention campaigner Ben West and Sarah Sternberg, director of the men’s health charity Movember.Lammy said society had been aware of the risks associated with harmful online content for years but had struggled to address the issue.“Where it is harmful, we have not been able to act successfully,” he said. “We’ve been conscious of this problem for many, many years. I just think it is a failure as a society.”His remarks come as the government considers new online safety measures for children. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ministers could strengthen legislation if technology companies fail to introduce device-level controls preventing children from sending or receiving nude images.Recent reports have also suggested the government is considering restrictions on social media use for under-16s following a nationwide consultation.Lammy said more than 100,000 people had participated in the consultation process and claimed that most parents supported stronger protections.“Nine out of 10 parents want support in this area,” he said. “They know, they are worried, they are anxious.”A LADbible survey of 2,000 people aged 18 to 34, including 1,500 men and 500 women, found that 86% of young men believe it is harder than ever to get ahead financially, although 84% still believe hard work can create opportunities. Drawing on his experience as both Justice Secretary and a parent of three children, Lammy said concerns about social media often centred on what young people encounter online when adults are absent.“It is the social media at night that keeps you up,” he said, adding that parents are often unable to see or respond to anxiety, loneliness or harmful content experienced by children online.Lammy also linked online harms to wider social challenges, including youth offending and inequality, saying he regularly sees the impact on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through the justice system.He argued that protecting children online should not become a partisan issue and called for a broader political consensus.“There are the politics of grievance playing out in this space, channelling a lot of angst, pain, grief and conflict, but not much solution,” he said. “This really ought to be so important that it’s above politics.”
