The House of Lords, the upper chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, has voted in favour of an amendment that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Peers approved the measure by 261 votes to 150, creating political pressure on the government to consider similar restrictions.
The amendment would require ministers to enact legislation compelling social media services to implement robust age checks and prevent under-16s from accessing them within 12 months of the bill becoming law. It also mandates that the country’s chief medical officers publish guidance for parents on children’s social media use. The provision will now return to the House of Commons, where elected members can decide whether to retain or remove it.
Supporters of the ban in the Lords cited concerns about extensive use of social media by children and its potential connection to mental health issues, distraction from education, and harmful content exposure. Peers referenced legislative changes abroad, including a recently introduced ban in Australia for under-16s, as evidence of growing international interest in age-based restrictions on social platforms.
The British government has launched a three-month consultation to assess options for protecting children online, including potential age limits, age verification requirements, and additional safeguards to restrict addictive design features on platforms. Ministers have said that further evidence is needed before deciding on new legal restrictions, and that the consultation will inform their approach.
The Lords’ decision increases political momentum for legislative action, with some members of the House of Commons and external groups urging a ban on social media use by children under 16 to safeguard well-being. Other proposals under consideration include raising the digital age of data consent above the current threshold and strengthening school policies on mobile phone use.
Critics of a full ban have raised questions about enforceability and the potential for young people to turn to less regulated online spaces if mainstream platforms are blocked. Debate in Parliament and consultations with stakeholders are expected to continue as policymakers consider the balance between protecting children and preserving access to digital services.
Legislative efforts related to child online safety build on existing regulatory frameworks such as the Online Safety Act 2023, which already gives authorities powers to require age-appropriate safety measures and content moderation on large platforms, although it does not itself impose a blanket under-16 ban.