Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has accused wealthy social media owners of making money from “division, conflict, hatred and toxicity” as the government introduces new measures aimed at protecting children online.Speaking during LADbible’s ‘Happening Now’ discussion series in London, Lammy said social media platforms have contributed to growing concerns about the well-being of young people and argued that governments across the Western world have failed to respond effectively.“I feel very strongly that when we’re talking about social media, at the end of the day there are a lot of billionaires, rich people making a lot of money and making money off of division, conflict, hatred and toxicity,” Lammy said.The comments came during a panel discussion on the challenges facing young men, including economic pressures, loneliness and opportunities for social mobility. The event also included influencer Jim Chapman, suicide prevention campaigner Ben West and Sarah Sternberg, director of men’s health charity Movember.Lammy said society had been aware of the risks associated with harmful online content for years but was struggling to address the issue.“Where it is harmful, we have not been able to take action successfully,” he said. “We have been aware of this problem for many years. I believe this is a failure as a society.”His comments come as the government considers new online safety measures for children. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ministers could strengthen the law if technology companies fail to implement device-level controls to stop children sending or receiving nude photos.Recent reports have also suggested that the government is considering banning social media use for people under the age of 16 following a nationwide consultation.Lammy said that more than 100,000 people had participated in the consultation process and claimed that the majority of parents supported stronger protections.“Nine out of 10 parents want support in this area,” she said. “They know, they’re concerned, they’re concerned.”The 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 that hard work can create opportunities. Citing her experience as both Justice Secretary and a parent of three children, Lammy said concerns about social media often focus on what young people experience online when adults are absent.“It’s social media that keeps you up at night,” she said, adding that parents are often unable to see or respond to the anxiety, loneliness or harmful content experienced by children online.Lammy also linked online harm to wider societal 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 children’s online safety should not become a partisan issue and called for broad political consensus.“There is a politics of grievance going on in the region, causing a lot of anger, pain, sorrow and conflict, but with no resolution,” he said. “It really should be so important that it transcends politics.”