A father has voiced opposition to proposed legislation that would ban under-16s from social media, arguing that such a move could infringe on children's rights and parental discretion. The comments come amid growing political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to introduce restrictions similar to Australia's recent ban.
The House of Lords voted 261-150 in favour of an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would force the government to act immediately. However, Downing Street has said it opposes the amendment and will fight it in the Commons, insisting that more evidence is needed before changing the law.
Labour has announced a three-month consultation on the issue, with a government source confirming that legislative groundwork will be laid to allow for a ban by summer if the consultation recommends it. The move is seen as an attempt to placate over 60 Labour MPs who have publicly called for a ban.
Critics of the consultation, including crossbench peer Baroness Kidron, have accused the government of prioritising party management over child safety. Baroness Cass, a leading paediatrician, questioned what additional information the consultation would provide, given Australia's existing ban.
The father opposing the ban emphasised that parents should retain the right to decide what is appropriate for their children, rather than having the state impose blanket restrictions. He warned that a ban could drive children to less regulated platforms and undermine digital literacy efforts.
