House of Lords backs legislation to ban social media for children under 16

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House of Lords backs legislation to ban social media for children under 16

Summary

Britain’s House of Lords voted 261–150 to add an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing social media within a year unless the House of Commons removes the provision. The amendment also requires chief medical officers to publish guidance for parents on how social media affects children at different stages of development.

The government has launched a consultation, is studying Australia’s experience, and is considering related measures such as raising the digital age of consent, barring addictive design choices, and imposing phone curfews.

Key Points

  • House of Lords approved the amendment by 261 to 150 to ban social media access for under‑16s within a year.
  • The measure is part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and could still be removed by the House of Commons.
  • Chief medical officers will be ordered to publish parental guidance on social media and child development.
  • The government has opened a consultation and ministers will study Australia’s law restricting children’s access to platforms.
  • Other options under consideration include raising the digital age of consent, restricting addictive product design, and introducing phone curfews.
  • Supporters pointed to addiction, mental‑health harms and effects on education; opponents warned of weak causal evidence and potential overreach.

Context and relevance

This is a notable move in UK tech and child‑safety policy and sits within a wider international trend scrutinising platform design and its effects on young people. If enacted, it would push platforms towards stricter age‑verification, design changes and compliance costs — and could influence other jurisdictions considering similar rules.

Author style

Punchy: This is a major policy shift with direct consequences for platforms, parents and young people. If you follow UK regulation, child protection or social‑media policy, read the detail — it will shape compliance and product choices.

Why should I read this?

Quick, practical: Parliament’s one‑two could reshape how kids use tech. Want the headlines on what might change, how firms may need to react and what it means for parents? This gives you the essentials without wading through Hansard.

Source

Source: https://therecord.media/house-lords-bans-social-media