UK Parliament Rejects Social Media Ban for Under-16s
The UK Parliament has rejected a proposal to introduce a social media ban for children under the age of 16. The amendment, which was intended to be added to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, was voted down by 307 to 173.
The proposal, previously supported by the House of Lords and teaching unions, had been introduced to protect children from online harms. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), described the decision as disappointing, arguing that the government had failed to prioritize children’s wellbeing. He emphasized the importance of considering the views of teachers, parents, and experts.
The government has instead launched a new consultation process on social media use. This process will explore alternative measures, including setting minimum age requirements for platforms and limiting addictive features.
Although the ban has been rejected at this stage, the government is reportedly backing an alternative approach that would grant ministers the authority to restrict access to social media. Potential measures include limiting children’s access to certain platforms, restricting VPN usage, and revising the digital age of consent.
The bill will now return to the House of Lords for further consideration. Experts note that discussions around protecting children in digital environments are likely to continue in the coming period.