Peers have supported a proposal to prohibit social media access for individuals under the age of 16 in a final effort before Parliament closes prior to the upcoming King’s Speech next month.
Despite MPs rejecting an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill three times, peers voted 316 to 165 in favor of the measure, with a majority of 151, as the deadlock persists. Former Conservative schools minister Lord Nash, a proponent of the age restriction, emphasized that peers had one last opportunity to endorse it.
The amendment will be subject to another vote when it returns to the Commons, a process known as parliamentary ping-pong. However, it is anticipated to be dismissed for the fourth time, with Keir Starmer considering various online safety measures, including a potential ban similar to Australia’s for under 16s.
Education minister Olivia Bailey has proposed a consultation process to address social media-related harms before implementing any restrictions. The consultation, expected to conclude in the summer, will determine whether enforcing a complete ban on social media for individuals under 16 is the most effective approach.
The recent vote adds pressure on Mr. Starmer to address the issue promptly, especially after Australia introduced a ban in December. Additionally, Esther Ghey, the mother of the late teenager Brianna Ghey, expressed disappointment in a letter to the Prime Minister for meeting with social media executives before engaging with bereaved families like hers.
During an interview on BBC Breakfast, Ms. Ghey shared her feelings about the PM meeting with leaders of TikTok, X, Meta, and other social media companies in April. She expressed being devastated, as she had hoped her family would have been given priority to share their experiences and stories.
Ms. Ghey, along with other advocates such as Ellen Roome, who believes her son Jools died attempting an online challenge, penned an open letter to the Prime Minister criticizing the decision to engage with social media firms before consulting with affected families. They emphasized the importance of directly hearing from those who have faced the tragic consequences associated with online platforms.