Speeches by Irons.

“On YouTube.”

“I broadened that out to include other content creators who are making higher-quality content. If you have content creators on your platform who you deem to be making higher-quality content, as Instagram does, are you promoting them—or will you in the future—above other stuff that perhaps is not as high-quality or is no…”

“Your content isn’t, but the platform that you put it on has been found to be so. Your walled garden of Sky Kids on Sky—your Sky platforms—I am sure has been created to the highest possible standards, but whether you are using it as a marketing tool or not, the content is on a platform that has been found to be intentio…”

“Just so you are aware, your content is on the non-logged-in bit as well. If you go on to just the website, which is next to the slop and next to whatever else it may be, it is also there. The point that we are trying to make, I feel, is that broadcasters are jumping through hoops and doing the right thing when it comes…”

“The point I am making is that although where you can control things, you are producing these things to the highest possible safety standards, you are being encouraged to put more content on to a place that you do not control and has been found to have been designed to be intentionally addictive. Do you think that the G…”

“I will declare some interests: I worked at Channel 4 before becoming an MP, and I have two small children who have watched a lot of Milkshake!—thank you so much for your service. It is a really lovely thing. I am going to ask some questions about YouTube and video sharing platforms, and about prominence and what that m…”

“I guess the question is—and it is for Meta as well; thank you for being here, and I am not trying to ignore you—who is responsible for content on your platforms? I appreciate that they are user-to-user generated, but even if it is participation videos showing that and helping to stoke and encourage others to join in, o…”

“So at least for Meta, the platforms are not safe for children aged 13 and above, as opposed to TikTok, which is trying to make it safe for children of 13 and up.”

“Does that cost the BBC more money to use?”

“There is a lot of talk, especially around children’s content—and when we talk about children, we are talking about 13-year-olds for your platform. Especially when it comes to things like YouTube, in the context of a framework for what we consider high-quality content, we have picked up in this inquiry that there are a …”

“Definitely, the commentary on it was left on your platform for quite some time. The initial posts were taken down but the thing that you said creates the hype—people talking about the thing—that stuff was left up for quite some time. I want to pick up on one thing very quickly. You talked about the accounts that posted…”

“Can I ask Rebecca the same question? Do you have that figure?”

“Then you should have the figure, shouldn’t you?”

“I am an MP in Croydon, and the red versus blue trend had a significant impact on some local schools. One school had a lot of children in one year who did not turn up because they were so afraid of what was going to happen. I appreciate that this is about content on your platform. You are very clear that you do not want…”

“On a broader point around video sharing platforms, you have both spoken passionately about the importance of high-quality content and what goes into making the programmes that you make. We have heard Milkshake! described as a safe space for parents and children on the linear schedule. Do you think that video sharing pl…”

“Are your platforms safe for children aged 13 and above?”

“Your content isn’t, but the platform that you put it on has been found to be so. Your walled garden of Sky Kids on Sky—your Sky platforms—I am sure has been created to the highest possible standards, but whether you are using it as a marketing tool or not, the content is on a platform that has been found to be intentio…”

“I suppose the question is, given everything you have done—and, as you acknowledge, it is still not safe—why are people still trying to sue you?”

“Not that one, but the other ones—the other people who are coming forward with other evidence. If you are doing all this and it is supposed to be making an impact, why are people still trying to sue Meta for having addictive platforms?”

“I suppose the question is, given everything you have done—and, as you acknowledge, it is still not safe—why are people still trying to sue you?”