MPs vote against social media ban for under-16s for third time
MPs have again rejected proposals to ban under-16s from accessing social media; This marks the third time such a measure has failed on the ballot.
The decision came after MPs voted 260 to 161 (a majority of 99) against the amendment to the Welfare of Children and Schools Act.
This change aimed to raise the minimum age limit for accessing social media platforms deemed harmful to 16 within one year.
Education Secretary Olivia Bailey told the House of Commons that extensive consultation is needed before implementing any strategy to address the harms associated with social media use.
Despite ruling out an outright ban, the bill would give ministers flexible new powers to regulate children’s online activities.
These include the ability to impose a curfew, set scrolling limits, and restrict location sharing. The government could also gain the authority to completely block those under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms.
Ms Bailey said: “There is clear consensus across this House on the need to protect children online.
“But our consultations go further than these changes by considering a broader set of options, including risks beyond social media such as gaming and AI chatbots.
“This is not a question of whether the Government acts, but how the Government acts to ensure strong and lasting protections for children online.”
The education minister said the Government had made a legal commitment to respond to the consultation process, which is due to be completed next month, in the summer and report to parliament within six months.
Ms Bailey also said Lord Nash, the former Conservative minister who put forward the amendment, had shown “constructive involvement” and that the Government planned to “come back to these issues on Monday” in the Lords.
Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott said the Government must protect children from extreme and violent content and parents “will not forgive continued delay”.
Before the vote he said: “Labour MPs voted against the ban twice.
“Parents would be forgiven for being not only deeply disappointed but frankly stunned by what has happened.
“They have heard the Prime Minister promising action, but once again he is preparing to lead his party through lobbies to vote against it. If the Government really wanted change, they could deliver it today.”
The government also pledged earlier this week that phones would be legally banned in schools.
Helen Hayes, chair of the Education Committee, said: “There will be children who need phones at school for a wide variety of reasons, for example because they are young carers or because they rely on phone-enabled software to provide support with a particular disability or special educational needs.
“There will be some exceptions and how this is addressed in the guidance is important to protect these children from the pressures of being the only child in class who has access to their phone.”
