US EditionSocial media ban for under-16s backed by Lords
Peers voted 261 to 150 to require strong age checks and ban social media use for under-16s, citing evidence of harm and public support, pending Commons review.
- On Wednesday the House of Lords backed an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill banning under-16s from social media, passing 261 to 150; MPs in the House of Commons will now consider it.
- A YouGov poll in December found 74% support, while campaigners, parents and actor Hugh Grant backed a petition with more than 68,000 signatures for the social media ban.
- Requiring `highly effective` age checks within 12 months, the amendment targets social media platforms, online games, messaging services and restricts children's access to VPN services.
- Earlier this week the government launched a three-month consultation and will report in the summer, though Downing Street previously said it would not accept the amendment.
- `We already know these systems are risky,' James Baker of the Open Rights Group said, warning that mass age verification risks serious privacy and data harms, citing last year's Discord breach.
98 Articles
98 Articles
Lords vote brings UK “Social Media Ban” one step closer
Yesterday, the British House of Lords brought the looming end of online anonymity one step closer when they voted to support an amendment to the pending Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban children under 16 from using social media. It’s been said more times than anyone can count, but any “social media ban” …
The House of Lords has voted to stop under 16s using social media – what happens now?
The House of Lords, October 2025. © House of Lords 2025/Annabel Moeller/FlickrThe House of Lords has voted, by a significant margin of 261 to 150, to prevent children under 16 in the UK from using social media platforms. There has been growing political interest in introducing a ban after a similar change came into effect in Australia in late 2025. Around 60 Labour MPs have signed a letter publicly calling for the prime minister to act, while th…
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