“Tech isn’t exceptional. Abiding by the product safety requirements found in every other industrial sector should be the norm.” @maevewalsh.bsky.social Precisely. The huge mistake we made w/ the internet/social media was abandoning a duty of care. Instead of age gating, let’s ensure accountability.

A ban is a symbolic reset, writes Maeve Walsh of the @osanetwork.bsky.social, but treating social media harms as a product safety failure—not just age-gating and hoping for the best—gets at the root, and it's already doable under the UK’s existing Online Safety Act.

The case for decisive action to address the harms created by social media platforms has been successfully made by children, parents, safety campaigners and many others. But the Government’s announcement today does them a disservice. 1/5

Wild that the Tories' Laura Trott has told #R4today "we tried policing content and it didn't work" as a reason for backing an all-out ban. There were plenty of people calling on the then Conservative government *not to make the #onlinesafetyact all about content* but they apparently knew best. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Under 16s to be banned from social media, and a white supremacist who fuels riots on our streets, still allowed to run a whole platform.

Until we see the details of what's in, what's out and how *it* (gestures vaguely at politically motivated, headline-grabbing mess) will be implemented, this from Emily Darlington is your must-read primer. #socialmedia #onlinesafetyact www.politico.eu/article/soci...

So X is poisonous enough to keep our kids from but still the preferred app of communication by government departments? Many have said it but I'll say it again: WTA yellow rubbery F?

Prospect union - which represents civil service comms staff - has called on the Govt to leave X saying Govt use of it "legitimises it as a platform, and also results in civil service communications officers having to wade through racist content while doing their jobs." bectu.org.uk/news/prospec...

We are proud to join over 100 organisations and campaigners standing with Jess Asato MP in her significant, and brave, step to seek accountability from xAI, not just for herself but the countless women and girls harmed, as reported in @the-independent.com: 1/5 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

It's time for Labour to deliver on the promise made in Opposition to revise the Online Safety Act to address exactly this (and put back in everything else the Tories removed from the legislation that might have helped the mess we're in now.) A promise made by ... erm ... Lucy Powell.

Labour defending Twitter is a good example of why they are so ineffective in government: utterly unwilling to take decisions which have any controversy attached.

Repost if you’d like me to represent the UK at #Eurovision 2027.

I know I've talked about this before, but I do think the secret for progressive politics in the UK is unlocking the power of the capable, liberal, pissed-off middle-aged woman. One of worst things about McSweeneyism has been the tedious, boarish sexism that pushed through tedious, illiberal policies

If the government wants to tackle the "online breeding ground of antisemitism" why on earth are Keir Starmer, the government and @heidialexander.bsky.social still posting on X? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw...

*stares in European*

Talking of banger tweets

@ofcom.bsky.social Chair job spec: a particular focus is #onlinesafety Successful candidate (according to @financialtimes.com): no relevant experience. Hard to see the logic, esp when #DSIT SofS has spent months berating the regulator over #onlinesafetyact enforcement www.ft.com/content/bdcc...

@ofcom.bsky.social Chair job spec: a particular focus is #onlinesafety Successful candidate (according to @financialtimes.com): no relevant experience. Hard to see the logic, esp when #DSIT SofS has spent months berating the regulator over #onlinesafetyact enforcement www.ft.com/content/bdcc...

And the House of Lords agreed: Baroness Kidron's amendment passed and now goes to the Commons. 👇🏼

Tonight, the documentary, Molly vs. The Machines will be shown at 9pm on Channel 4. It tells the heartbreaking story of Molly Russell who tragically took her own life aged just 14 after viewing harmful content online. Molly’s story, as told by her family and friends, is not an isolated one. 1/

Our initial response to the Government's consultation on children's #onlinesafety, which is due to be published later this morning. More to follow once we've seen the detail. 👉🏼 www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/res...

In 2016, 1000s of AI researchers and business leaders signed this open letter calling for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons. futureoflife.org/open-letter/... Worth having a little scroll through some of the names highlighted in the top 100.

Wild that the person who did so much to derail and delay *her own government* from passing the #onlinesafetybill back in 2022, adding a further year's delay before it became law, is now accusing the current government of "dragging its heels" on children's #onlinesafety. #onlinesafetyact

Overseas tycoons such as Elon Musk would be barred from giving substantial donations to UK political parties under new legislation to block companies making gifts if they do not have British owners or make sufficient revenue in the country www.ft.com/content/f4ed...

Radcliffe should remember we immigrants and children of immigrants are here because of British colonisation and make a huge contribution. He moved to Monaco to avoid £4bn tax. His club Man U owes everything to migrant players and migrant supporters. He’s an embarrassment to the club and game.

If you love cats, or are wondering if you could, have a read of this thread. Little furry tyrants who are also extremely cuddly and sweet

💯 this from @nickmacpherson.bsky.social

Someone should build a tool so you can give the big global elite meetups an "Epstein Score". Munich Security Conference next week...

I’m curious what government agencies are doing to support the staff they’ve tasked with running their accounts on X, who now risk seeing abusive materials and CSAM in the course of their work. (I previously headed up social for Dep Int Trade, if I still was I would refuse to make my team do this)

@ofcom.bsky.social has today published an "update" on its investigation into #Grok and the #ICO has announced it's opening one of its own. Here's our response on why both regulators need to up their game and why gaps in the #onlinesafetyact must be filled. www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/osa...

This.👌🏻 youtube.com/watch?v=5Wd1...

Fantastic piece by @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social:

there's a lot in this piece but the Mandelson email about angling for some kind of job at JP Morgan because 'i do not want to live by salary alone' just exemplifies everything people hate about politicians, the City, and revolving doors between the two www.ft.com/content/91e8...

Mate, the whole point of vetting is to determine if they are lying. Your explanation just makes the situation worse!

Social media really has ruined Commons scrutiny in that nobody hunts in a pack anymore, it's just 'would the minister like to repeat his statement but for *my* Facebook clip' these days.

🆕 Today we're publishing a code for improved #onlinesafety for election candidates, developed with experts at @demos-uk.bsky.social @counterhate.com @isdglobal.org @jocoxfoundation.bsky.social @wfd.org @fawcettsociety.bsky.social @fullfact.org & #ElectHer 1/2 www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/imp...

and no I haven't put the Mandelson-Epstein-Reinaldo scoop on twitter we journalists *can* make Bluesky the place to break news

Men, more able than women to judge truthfulness AND fight geese yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

Rare RT of myself, because there is a delightful thread of cats (plus the odd canine interloper) in response to this and I'm sure your timeline could do with some wholesome pet pics.

This week, an X user created an AI video of me being chloroformed and prepared for rape. Victims are told it's not real and they're getting offended for no reason. But nudification tools are weapons of sexual assault, and the harm they cause is real 👇 jessasato.substack.com/p/ai-nudific...

🚨 Lord Nash won the vote on his #socialmedia amendment in the Lords last night - read the transcript here, including Baroness Kidron on #safetybydesign & support from Lord Clement-Jones & Viscount Colville for our proposals to strengthen the #onlinesafetyact 👇🏻 hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0...

Well, etc. #onlinesafetyact

Well said, Baroness Kidron in @houseoflords.parliament.uk #socialmedia debate tonight. #onlinesafetyact www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...?

right now there is a a really sophisticated, heartfelt, careful debate taking place in the House of Lords about restrictions on teenagers' social media use a real contrast to the baying bear pit of PMQs which is most people's impression of Parliament

Well. Who'd have thought it? The Government's attempts to stave off a defeat in the Lords with a rushed announcement of a consultation on a #socialmedia ban - a consultation that isn't actually going to be ready to launch for a number of weeks ... haven't worked. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...

"We believe the most efficient and effective way to stop the tech companies continuing to harm our children - and many others - is to strengthen and enforce the existing #onlinesafetyact." Our response to the Government's #socialmedia consultation today.👇🏻 www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/str...

Spot on.

I regret to inform you that we are back to 2022 levels of "world-leading" Government #onlinesafety comms - three appearances here, prefacing the #onlinesafetyact, curriculum reforms and #AI safety standards.

This figure (and the full article) tells you a lot about the grip the tech sector and its lobbyists have on UK government thinking and just how hard it is for civil society to get its voice heard. #onlinesafetyact 👇🏻 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

that’s not very free speech-y