Britain’s House of Lords has voted in favor of banning social media use for under-16s, increasing pressure on the government to consider similar measures to those introduced in Australia.
The amendment, proposed by Conservative lawmaker John Nash and co-sponsored by Labour and Liberal Democrat peers, passed with 261 votes to 150. Nash said the vote marks a step toward protecting children from the harmful effects of social media.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not ruled out any options but plans to wait for the results of a government consultation later this summer before introducing legislation.
The amendment now moves to the Labour-controlled House of Commons. Over 60 Labour MPs, along with public figures such as actor Hugh Grant, have urged the government to support the ban, arguing that parents alone cannot prevent social media harm.
Some child-protection groups, however, warn that a ban may create a false sense of security. A December YouGov poll indicated that 74% of Britons back the move. The Online Safety Act also requires secure age verification for harmful online content.
