Lawmakers in the UK have backed a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, similar to Australia’s landmark move, putting pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to implement restrictions.
The House of Lords voted 261-150 in favor of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban under-16s from social media platforms.
The House of Commons will now have to consider the amendment, where it may not pass, as the government indicated it will try to overturn it.
The Lords’ vote happened despite the government launching a three-month consultation on social media restrictions this week, seeking views on measures such as curbs on addictive features, banning children’s access and better age checks.
But John Nash, the lawmaker who put forward the amendment, said the consultation is “unnecessary” and “a last-minute attempt to kick the can down the road.”
“What are we waiting for? We know our children are being harmed,” he said. Nash added that there’s global momentum for such restrictions, pointing to Australia, Malaysia, Denmark, France, Norway and New Zealand.
“Our position is clear. We won’t accept the amendment,” Starmer’s spokesperson said after the Lords’ vote. “We believe the right thing to do is to gather the necessary evidence and insight before changing the law.”