MPs reject Lords-backed social media ban for second time

MPs have rejected calls for a default ban on children accessing social media for a second time.

They voted by 256 to 150, majority 106, to side with the Government on its plan to tackle social media-linked harms affecting children.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, ministers are set to gain a flexible power to curb children’s social media use with curfews, scrolling limits and restrictions on location sharing.

The Government could also choose to block under-16s from specified platforms.

A consultation, set to close next month, has been set up to help ministers decide what action they should take.

Conservative former minister Lord Nash had proposed a default ban on children using the social media platforms deemed harmful, with a 12-month implementation window, which peers initially agreed to.

MPs in the Commons, where the Government has a majority, voted last month to reject it in favour of the flexible power, before the Lords insisted on the default ban.

But as part of the process to agree on the final wording of the Bill, sometimes known as ping pong, MPs have again agreed to back the Government’s position.

Education minister Olivia Bailey told the Commons: “Instead of the narrow amendment proposed in the House of Lords, our consultation allows us to address a much wider range of services and features.”

Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: “I will keep fighting until the Government offers a ban on social media on the face of the Bill.”