House of Lords Votes to Ban Social Media for Under-16s in the UK
The House of Lords has backed a proposed ban on social media for children under the age of 16, following increasing pressure from campaigners and experts. Peers voted 261 to 150, with a majority of 111, in support of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, championed by former schools minister Lord Nash.
Growing Calls for Action on Online Harms
Supporters of the ban, modelled on similar measures in Australia, argue that parents are facing an ‘impossible position’ in protecting their children from online harms. Lord Nash stated that the evidence for a ban is ‘overwhelming’, with backing from a wide range of groups including medical professionals, police, national intelligence, teachers, and hundreds of thousands of parents.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced a three-month consultation to examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of a ban. This consultation will also consider additional measures such as overnight curfews and strategies to prevent ‘doom-scrolling’, with a report expected in the summer.
What Would a Social Media Ban Entail?
If implemented, the UK ban would likely mirror Australia’s approach, which includes:
- Age-check methods: Platforms may analyse browsing history or monitor phone activity to ensure it aligns with school hours.
- Account disabling: Social media accounts identified as belonging to underage users would be deactivated.
- Enforcement penalties: While minors would not face penalties, companies could be fined for failing to comply with the law.
Currently, almost 40% of children aged 3 to 5 in the UK use social media, highlighting the urgency of the issue. The UK already has the Online Safety Act, which restricts access to adult websites by requiring age verification methods such as uploading card details or using facial recognition technology.
Platforms Affected and Potential Loopholes
Based on the Australian model, the ban would apply to a significant number of social media platforms, including:
- Kick
- Snapchat
- Threads
- TikTok
- Twitch
- X
- YouTube
Notably, messaging or gaming platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Discord are not included in the Australian list. However, some children in Australia have already found ways to bypass age checks, such as wrinkling their faces to appear older or browsing social media without an account.
Next Steps and Government Response
With the House of Lords’ approval, the proposal now moves to the government, which will have the opportunity to overturn it in the House of Commons. The outcome of the consultation and subsequent parliamentary debates will be crucial in shaping the future of online safety for young people in the UK.
