UK House of Lords Pushes Under-16 Social Media Ban Again

The UK House of Lords voted 266 to 141 on Thursday night to revive an amendment that would ban children under 16 from social media platforms, defying the Labour government's preference for a public consultation. This is the second time peers have supported Conservative former minister Lord John Nash's proposal after MPs defeated it earlier this month.

The vote came as tech companies faced legal consequences in California, where a jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages for designing addictive products that harmed a 20-year-old woman's mental health. The landmark verdict could influence similar lawsuits against social media platforms.

The Lords' amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill now returns to the House of Commons, where Labour's substantial majority is expected to reject it again. Lord Nash criticized tech companies for prioritizing commercial interests over child safety, stating that 'delay has consequences.' He paid tribute to bereaved parents in the gallery who have lost children due to social media-related issues.

Supporters of the ban argue that immediate action is necessary to protect children from online harms. Baroness Beeban Kidron emphasized that 'while we consult, children are harmed in real time.' However, opponents like Labour's Baroness Elizabeth Lloyd warn that an immediate ban might have unintended consequences and could be circumvented by children.

The government has launched a consultation on online safety measures, including potential social media bans and digital curfews. Nearly 30,000 responses from parents and children have been received so far. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between immediate legislative action and thorough public consultation in addressing the impacts of social media on young people.