Campaigners gathered outside Meta’s UK headquarters to demand the tech giant, owner of Facebook and Instagram, pay a ‘misery tax’ to support mental health services in the country. The group, Mad Youth Organise, also urged the government to enforce competition laws and explore a publicly-owned social media alternative to address the dominance of companies like Meta in the market. Demonstrators distributed leaflets and displayed posters criticizing Meta directly outside their Kings Cross offices.
Similar posters have been displayed on billboards across London, advocating for four percent of Meta’s UK revenue, which exceeded £3 billion in 2024, to be allocated to public mental health funding. Emma Hughes, a campaigns organizer for Just Treatment, emphasized that contributions from various industries, including big tech, could help bridge the gaps in NHS mental health funding.
The campaigners’ actions align with the UK government’s consultation on young people’s online platform usage, with proposals including a potential social media ban for those under 16. However, they believe that government regulations alone will not suffice to address the mental health impacts of social media algorithms and targeted marketing. The group is advocating for a review of competition laws and the possibility of a publicly-owned social media platform as a more sustainable solution.
Adele Zeynep Walton, a campaigner who lost her sister to suicide linked to harmful content on social media, supported the campaigners, emphasizing the need for safer online environments. She highlighted the negative impact of platforms like Instagram on mental well-being. The campaigners encourage public engagement in the government consultation and offer resources for support on online safety.
The Mirror has reached out to Meta for comment on the campaigners’ demands.