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A social media ban for under-16s could be introduced in the UK after the House of Lords backed the move.
Peers passed an amendment to the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on 21 January – a wide-ranging set of law proposals currently making its way through parliament.
The amendment says that within 12 months of the act passing, social media sites must be required to use “highly effective” age checks to make sure no under-16s can become users.
It comes amid growing calls from some Labour MPs, campaigners, and the Conservative opposition for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to do more to protect young people online.
The government will have the chance to overturn the amendment in the Commons, but experts say it could prove challenging, as many Labour MPs have backed the ban.
The pressure comes after Australia introduced an unprecedented ban on under-16s using social media last month.
But how does that ban work, and what has been the reaction to it?
What are the new laws in Australia?
The ban in Australia has been a driving force in the UK debate, coming up continually in the Lords discussions.
Sir Keir, who was initially opposed to a…
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