The UK’s House of Lords has voted in favor of an amendment that would ban social media access for individuals under the age of 16. The vote, which took place on Wednesday, saw significant support from across the political spectrum.
The amendment, proposed by Conservative peer Lord Nash, garnered 261 votes in favor, with 150 against. Members of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties joined Conservative peers in supporting the measure.
Lord Nash stated, “Tonight, our peers in the House of Lords have prioritized the future of our children. This vote marks the beginning of a process to halt the catastrophic damage that social media inflicts on an entire generation.”
While the British government had previously indicated its opposition to the amendment, it will now be sent to the House of Commons, where the Labour Party holds a majority. Over 60 Labour MPs have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support the ban, placing pressure on the government to reconsider its position.
Starmer stated earlier this week that he was not ruling out any options and pledged to work towards protecting children online. However, his government has also expressed a preference to await the results of consultations planned for next summer before introducing legislation.
Calls for the British government to take action have grown louder, with comparisons being drawn to Australia, which implemented a ban on social media usage for those under 16 on December 10th of last year. The move by the House of Lords intensifies the debate and puts pressure on the government to address the potential harms of social media on young people.
