Logging off: Kids' social media ban now feels almost certain

The House of Lords has backed a prohibition connected under-16s utilizing societal media.

Peers passed an amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is presently making its mode done parliament.

Lords statement arsenic it happened - authorities latest

The amendment says wrong 12 months of the enactment passing, societal media sites indispensable beryllium required to usage "highly effective" property checks to marque definite nary under-16s tin go users.

With peers having backed the ban, the authorities volition person the accidental to overturn it successful the Commons - but that's looking progressively tricky.

The premier curate was initially opposed to specified an outright ban, but unit from absorption parties and his ain backbenchers has softened his government's position.

One Labour MP told Sky's governmental newsman Faye Brown determination was "no way" the authorities could whip the Parliamentary Labour Party against it, which could trigger different welfare-style rebellion.

Earlier this week, the authorities announced it was consulting connected a prohibition for under-16s, with the artifact imposed by Australia perchance acting arsenic inspiration.

Since that prohibition came into unit successful December, it has felt similar the UK authorities has been moving to a akin policy.

But waiting for the three-month consultation to reason whitethorn not beryllium an enactment aft Wednesday night's vote.

Peer aft adjacent - and genitor aft genitor - spoke of the risks and harms they felt were implicit successful children utilizing societal media.

Some shared tips connected however they bounds their children's usage, others cited studies regarding the wellness impact.

Read much from Sky News:
Badenoch issues informing to Tory MPs
Emotional Harry gives grounds against Mail

Government looks acceptable to instrumentality action

All eyes were connected the Lords pursuing campaigning from bereaved parents, celebrities, and charities - and present the measure heads backmost to the Commons wherever MPs volition see if they hold with the amendment.

It volition beryllium a trial of parliamentary absorption for the premier curate - who has already been portrayed arsenic anemic to his backbenchers pursuing that payment rebellion - if helium takes them connected and loses.

But it seems astir definite a prohibition volition beryllium coming successful immoderate signifier oregon form.

A authorities spokesperson said: "We volition instrumentality enactment to springiness children a healthier narration with mobile phones and societal media.

"It is important we get this right, which is wherefore we person launched a consultation and volition enactment with experts, parents and young radical to guarantee we instrumentality the champion approach, based connected evidence."