MPs have voted against a proposal to ban under-16s from using social media, rejecting an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill by 307 votes to 173. The bill will now return to the House of Lords for further consideration.
Key Takeaways
MPs have voted against a proposed ban on social media for under-16s, rejecting an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill by 307 votes to 173. The government has left open the possibility of future restrictions after launching a consultation on online safety measures.
- MPs rejected a social media ban for under-16s with a vote of 307 to 173.
- The amendment was proposed by Conservative peer Lord Nash and supported by the House of Lords but defeated in the Commons.
- The government has launched a consultation on potential future restrictions, including age limits and addictive features.
The proposed ban had been backed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and peers in the House of Lords but was ultimately blocked after Labour whipped its MPs to support an alternative proposal put forward by the government. The amendment would have forced tech giants to implement measures preventing under-16s from accessing social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Supporters of the ban argued that parents are in 'an impossible position' regarding online harms their children face, while opponents warned it could drive teenagers towards less regulated corners of the internet. The NSPCC was among those expressing concerns about a blanket ban.
The government has left open the possibility of future restrictions after MPs supported an amendment giving additional powers to Science Secretary Liz Kendall. These powers include restricting or banning children of certain ages from accessing social media services, limiting VPN use, and changing the age of digital consent in the UK.
Lord Nash described the Commons' vote as 'deeply disappointing' and pledged to revive the amendment in the upper chamber. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will only become law if both Houses agree on the final draft.
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