In an interview with the BBC, Josh Simons, who formerly worked on Meta's AI ethics team, expressed his concern about the lack of seriousness of tech companies regarding social media safety.

Simons, who resigned from Meta due to inaction on his team's recommendations, stated that the company's decisions prioritized engagement and revenue over mitigating the harms caused by addiction to the platforms.

Simons' statement comes after a US court decision holding Meta and Google responsible for a young woman's social media addiction, a ruling Simons hopes will serve as a wake-up call for industry executives.

A jury in the United States recommended that the plaintiff, 20 years old, be awarded six million dollars (£4.4 million).

Both Meta and Google have expressed their disagreement with the verdict and have confirmed that they plan to appeal.

This ruling could influence the outcome of thousands of similar cases that accuse social media companies of causing harm, which has generated a debate about the need for stricter regulation.

Simons, who would support a ban on social media for under-16s, has also suggested banning mobile phones in schools.

However, he also pointed out that politicians should not be exempt from the responsibility of improving social media regulation.

The former executive argues that the creation of AI systems designed to maximize metrics such as clicks and likes inherently leads to user addiction.

In the UK, ministers are currently consulting on a possible ban on social media for under-16s, in addition to testing other restrictions on young people's use of technology.

Sir Keir Starmer suggested that the decision in the United States points to a shift in public opinion and a desire for stricter regulation, stating that the Government will study the decision "very carefully".

The court decision and potential regulations reflect a growing concern about the impact of social media on the mental health and well-being of young people.

Simons' interview comes a month after he resigned as a Cabinet Office minister over an investigation commissioned by a think tank he used to lead, into journalists who had written stories about its funding.

Although he was cleared of breaching the ministerial code by an official investigation, Simons resigned from the government at the end of February, saying he had become a "distraction".

In his interview, he apologized again for commissioning the report from the PR firm Apco Worldwide while he was director of Labour Together, a think tank closely aligned with Sir Keir's leadership campaign.