Lords vote to ban social media for under-16s in the UK

The House of Lords has voted to support legislation that would ban the use of social media platforms by under-16s in the United Kingdom.

Opposition peers voted to support the social media ban through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with 261 voting in favour and 150 voting against.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers voted in favour of the amendment, along with two Labour peers.

The amendment would give the government one year to determine which platforms to make inaccessible to those under the age of 16. Once defined, these social media platforms would need to put in age checks to prevent under-16s from using them.

It should be noted that this amendment will face scrutiny in the House of Commons, where the government has indicated it will overturn the proposed change.

This does not necessarily mean the government will not eventually introduce a social media ban itself, as it is set to hold its own consultation on a social media ban for younger users that could lead to new legislation.

While the majority of Labour peers voted against the amendment in the Lords, things in the Commons are quickly becoming more complicated.

Many Labour MPs have voiced their support for a social media ban for under-16s following the successful passing of similar restrictions in Australia.

A group of more than 60 Labour MPs recently wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for a social media ban for under-16s.

In their letter, they argued that social media was a key factor in the rising anxiety, unhappiness, and inability to focus on school seen in children across the country.

“Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood,” the group said.

With the amendment backed by the Lords now set to be voted on in the Commons, those MPs who have written to Starmer supporting a social media ban may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of being asked to vote against the Lords’ amendment in favour of this move.

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