The motion came after Australia introduced a world-first law in December requiring major social media platforms to prevent users under the a
...prevent users under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. MPs in the UK have voted against introducing a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, rejecting a proposal that had been backed earlier this year by the House of Lords. The proposed restriction was defeated in the House of Commons by 307 votes to 173 after ministers argued that an outright ban could have unintended consequences for young people. Campaigners supporting the measure had said it would help protect teenagers from harmful content online, while critics warned it could push children towards less regulated corners of the internet. The vote comes as governments around the world, including in Ireland, debate whether stricter limits should be placed on social media use by young people. The amendment to the UK’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill had been put forward by Conservative peer Lord Nash, amid growing pressure from campaigners and public figures including actor Hugh Grant. Supporters argued that parents are currently in an “impossible position” when it comes to protecting children from online harms such as explicit content, cyberbullying and addictive platform features. However, organisations including the NSPCC warned that banning teenagers outright could drive them towards unregulated websites or make them less prepared for navigating the online world when they eventually gain access.
continue reading
