UK MPs Reject Under-16 Social Media Ban Again

Members of the UK Parliament have voted for a second time against a proposal that would prohibit children under 16 from using social media platforms, opting instead to back the government’s plan to consult further before considering potential restrictions.

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The House of Commons rejected an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that sought to introduce the ban. The House of Lords defeated the proposal, introduced by Conservative peer Lord Nash, by 256 votes to 150, a majority of 106.

The vote came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepared to meet senior executives from major social media companies to press them for stronger measures to protect children online.

Government backs consultation approach

While rejecting the proposed ban, MPs supported a separate amendment from the governing Labour Party that would grant ministers new powers to introduce age restrictions on social media platforms after a government consultation concludes next month.

The Nash amendment would have created a default ban on under-16s using social media and given ministers up to 12 months to determine which platforms should be covered.

Olivia Bailey, the early education minister, said the government’s consultation would allow officials to consider a broader range of online services and design features rather than focusing solely on age limits.

“Instead of the narrow amendment proposed in the House of Lords, our consultation allows us to address a much wider range of services and features,” Bailey said, adding that it was important not to pre-empt the consultation process.

The review is examining whether to raise the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16. It is also considering whether features such as infinite scrolling and other mechanisms that encourage prolonged engagement should be restricted.

Pressure on technology companies

Ahead of a meeting scheduled for Thursday, Starmer said social media companies must act more quickly to improve safety standards for young users.

The prime minister is expected to meet representatives from TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.

“Parents rightly expect action and fast,” Starmer said. “That’s why we’ve already taken the powers needed to move quickly once our consultation ends. I will take whatever steps necessary to keep children safe online.”

He added that the meeting was intended to ensure technology firms “step up and take responsibility”.

Campaigners urge stronger action

The vote took place amid growing pressure from bereaved parents and campaign groups calling for tighter controls on children’s access to social media.

Before the Commons vote, campaigners gathered outside Downing Street to deliver a letter urging the government to restrict social media use for under-16s, ban mobile phones in schools and limit features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.

Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna Ghey was murdered in 2023, said the government’s consultation risked delaying action on online harms.

She said social media had contributed to her daughter’s isolation and argued that greater restrictions could help protect vulnerable young people.

Other parents also called for stronger regulation. Stuart Stephens, whose 13-year-old son Olly Stephens was killed in 2021 after being lured to a meeting through online contact, said children’s developing brains made them particularly vulnerable to harmful online content.

Louise Gibson, whose 11-year-old son Noah died in 2021 in what she believes was linked to a social media challenge, said she remained hopeful the proposed changes could still be adopted.

Campaigners including Ellen Roome, whose son died four years ago, say technology companies have not done enough to address safety concerns and are calling for government intervention.

Meanwhile, the Molly Rose Foundation, an online safety charity, said banning social media for younger users would not be the most effective solution. Instead, it urged ministers to strengthen the Online Safety Act and focus on regulating the design of platforms.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 April 2026