MPs in the House of Commons voted down a Conservative-backed amendment to ban social media use for under-16s as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, rejecting the proposal by 307 votes to 173 on Monday night.
Government to Proceed with Consultation on Social Media Age Limits
The amendment, initially supported by the House of Lords, aimed to raise the minimum age for social media access but faced opposition from the government. Education Minister Olivia Bailey cited concerns from children’s charities that an outright ban could push young users to less regulated online spaces or leave them unprepared for digital engagement. She confirmed the government will proceed with a consultation to gather views on potential next steps, including the possibility of a future ban on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Parliament Debates Urgency and Next Steps
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott described the issue as an “emergency,” referencing polling that indicated 40% of children encounter explicit content on smartphones during school days. Despite this, 107 Labour MPs abstained from the vote. Several opposition members expressed frustration at the lack of decisive government action, with the Liberal Democrats calling for concrete assurances rather than ongoing consultation.
Additional Powers Granted to Technology Secretary
The bill passed amendments granting technology secretary Liz Kendall powers to implement measures related to children’s online activities, including the potential to ban social media use under age limits in the future, restrict access to addictive app features like autoplay videos, and limit the use of VPNs by children.
The legislation will return to the House of Lords for further consideration, with Conservative Lord Nash, who proposed the amendment, vowing to continue efforts to raise the age limit and protect children online. The bill can only become law once both Houses approve the final text.
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Source: https://gokaworldnews.com/2026/03/11/mps-reject-amendment-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s/