House of Lords backs legislation to ban social media for children under 16

Britain’s House of Lords voted 261–150 to ban children under 16 from accessing social media within a year as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The legislation also requires chief medical officers to publish guidance for parents and has prompted government consultations on raising the digital age of consent, restricting addictive design and studying Australia’s approach. #HouseOfLords #ChildrensWellbeingAndSchoolsBill

Keypoints

The House of Lords approved an amendment to ban under‑16s from social media within a year by a 261–150 margin.
The bill mandates chief medical officers to publish guidance for parents on social media’s effects at different development stages.
The government has launched a consultation and is studying Australia’s law, plus options like raising the digital age of consent and phone curfews.
Supporters cited studies and medical leaders linking heavy social media use to eating disorders, self‑harm, depression, anxiety and attention deficits.
Opponents argued there is insufficient causal evidence and warned against scapegoating social media for wider societal issues.