On Wednesday, Britain's House of Lords voted 261 to 150 in favor of an amendment that would bar under-16s from using social media platforms. The move ramps up pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to align with Australia's ban, which took effect on December 10, 2025.
The amendment, championed by Conservative peer John Nash and co-sponsored by a Labour and a Liberal Democrat peer, aims to curb the "catastrophic harm" social networks can inflict on young minds. Before the vote, Downing Street signaled it would reject the change, pointing to a public consultation due this summer.
"Tonight, peers put our children's future first," Nash said. "This vote begins the process of stopping the catastrophic harm that social media is inflicting on a generation."
With more than 60 Labour MPs now calling on Starmer to back the ban, the amendment moves next to the House of Commons. For young global citizens, this debate echoes wider conversations on digital wellbeing and tech regulation shaping governments from Ottawa to New Delhi.
Data Insights:
- Global surveys show that over 70% of teenagers use social media daily, with an average screen time exceeding three hours.
- Mental health experts link spikes in anxiety and sleep disruption to heavy social media use among teens.
- Australia's ban on under-16s, in force since December 2025, has prompted tech giants to rethink age-verification systems worldwide.
As business and tech enthusiasts track regulatory trends, this UK debate offers a preview of possible global standards. Thought leaders and changemakers are weighing in: some advocate for digital literacy programs, while others call for stricter age checks or even broader platform reforms.
Whether the Commons will adopt the Lords' amendment remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the conversation around child safety and social media is only just beginning—and it's reverberating across borders.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
