UK ministers plan to boost prominence of domestic news on YouTube, Meta

UK ministers are preparing to introduce new rules that would compel social media platforms like YouTube and Meta to give greater prominence to British news content. This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat misinformation and ensure that reliable UK news sources are more visible online, countering concerns that algorithms bury such content. The government is considering extending existing 'prominence rules,' which ensure public service broadcasters have accessible channel listings on television, to social media platforms. Tech companies have expressed opposition to such regulations, arguing they interfere with their algorithms. This move follows a recent announcement by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer banning under-16s from using social media platforms, a decision met with strong criticism from tech leaders.