London, (Zahid Anwar Mirza) — The United Kingdom has moved a step closer to restricting social media access for children under the age of 16, after the House of Lords overwhelmingly approved a key amendment aimed at regulating youth online activity.

The amendment, passed by 261 votes to 150, has been added to the government’s Schools Bill. It would require the government to determine within one year which social media platforms should be prohibited for under-16s and to mandate robust and effective age-verification systems for technology companies.

Despite the vote, the government has indicated it will attempt to remove the amendment when the bill returns to the House of Commons. However, the decision has intensified political pressure on ministers, as dozens of Labour MPs have publicly supported restrictions on social media use by younger children.

Political momentum behind the proposal gained further strength following Australia’s recent decision to ban children under 16 from using 10 major social media platforms. In response, more than 60 Labour MPs joined Conservative lawmakers in calling for similar measures to be adopted in the UK.

The proposal has not gone unchallenged. Some social activists and child welfare organizations have raised concerns, warning that a blanket ban could have unintended consequences for children’s social development and access to support networks.

Supporting the amendment, former Conservative Education Secretary Lord Nash described underage social media use as a “social catastrophe,” citing its impact on children’s mental health, online radicalization, and declining behavior in schools. He argued that the ban would give children “a few precious years” to mature mentally.

Criticizing the government’s approach, Lord Nash dismissed further consultations as “a final attempt to buy time,” asking:
“What are we waiting for? We already know our children are being harmed.”

The issue is expected to remain a major point of debate as the legislation proceeds through Parliament.