• The House of Lords pushes toward tightening restrictions on minors’ use of digital platforms
• Government faces parliamentary test amid political division and legal concerns

The British House of Lords supported a proposal to ban the use of social media platforms for those under 16 in Britain, after a vote in which 261 opposition members approved an amendment to the government’s Schools Bill, compared to 150 opposing votes.

The government indicated its intention to try to overturn the amendment when presented to the House of Commons, simultaneously launching independent consultations on the possibility of imposing such a ban.

Passing the amendment in the House of Commons could pose a political challenge for ministers, as several Labour MPs have expressed their support for the idea of banning minors.

Political momentum in Westminster in favor of imposing restrictions on minors’ use of social media has increased, especially after Australia’s move last month to ban these platforms for those under 16 across ten major platforms.

Additionally, more than 60 Labour MPs recently joined the Conservative Party in calling for a similar measure in Britain.

Under the amendment approved by the House of Lords, the government will be given a one-year period to determine which platforms will be banned for those under 16, with companies required to implement "highly effective" age verification mechanisms to control access.

The amendment received support from members of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, independent members, and two Labour members.

Former Conservative Schools Minister Lord Nash, one of the amendment’s sponsors, said that children’s use of social media represents a "societal catastrophe," considering that the ban could give teenagers "a few additional years to mature" before engaging with these platforms.

He added that the evidence on the harm caused by teenagers’ use of social media is "overwhelming," pointing to its links with mental health problems, online radicalization, and disruptive behavior in classrooms, describing the government’s consultations as "a delayed attempt to postpone the decision."

Meanwhile, digital safety activist Baroness Kidron expressed concern that the government consultations could become a "playground for tech lobby groups," considering that the government "only acts under pressure, not principle."

In contrast, several members of the House of Lords urged caution, with Labour’s Lord Knight of Weymouth warning that the ban could push teenagers to use "less regulated platforms," adding that a blanket ban could also deprive children of the positive aspects of online social interaction, and calling for youth to be involved in the ongoing consultations.

In a previous response to a question about the government’s position on the House of Lords amendment, a spokesperson for Labour leader Keir Starmer said the party "will not accept the amendment," emphasizing that the issue is "extremely complex" and that the correct approach is to gather the necessary evidence before amending the laws.

The government consultations are scheduled to continue for three months, examining the feasibility of imposing a ban on those under 16, along with other proposals such as implementing overnight usage restrictions and preventing "doom-scrolling," in addition to exploring whether stricter age verification measures could be imposed, potentially requiring companies to limit or remove features that encourage excessive social media use.