Published: January 22, 2026 at 9:28 am
The House of Lords has voted to back a ban on social media for under-16s, increasing pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to accelerate plans to tighten controls on children’s online activity.
The government was defeated on Wednesday after peers approved an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill by 261 votes to 150, mirroring a policy introduced in Australia last month.
The vote comes as Downing Street considers an Australia-style crackdown, having confirmed on Monday that ministers are looking at the option of a legal ban.
However, in the House of Lords, several peers raised concerns about the timescale of the government’s response, pointing to a consultation launched this week that will take three months to complete.