The British House of Commons has rejected a ban on social media for children — The Guardian
The British Parliament has voted against a blanket ban on social media for children under 16 for the second time.
This was reported by The Guardian.
Instead of strict restrictions, lawmakers opted for a flexible government plan that includes adaptive control measures.
The bill, which was based on Australia’s strict model, failed to gain sufficient support among lawmakers.
During the vote, 256 members of the House of Commons opposed the initiative, while only 150 voted in favor.
Instead, lawmakers supported the government’s strategy under the upcoming Children’s Well-being and Schools Act.
This document will grant ministers special powers to respond promptly to threats in the online space.
The new approach includes the possibility of imposing a so-called “curfew” on online platforms.
Government officials will also be able to restrict infinite scroll functions and prohibit the transmission of minors’ geolocation data.
In addition to technical restrictions, British authorities will gain the legal right to completely block access to specific harmful resources. This mechanism will allow for targeted action without imposing blanket bans on all young people in the country.
Currently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s team has launched a large-scale public consultation on this issue. Based on the results of these discussions, which are set to conclude in May, specific steps and sanctions will be determined.
Early Years Minister Olivia Bailey explained the benefits of the chosen approach to MPs. She emphasized that the government’s plan is significantly more effective than the previously proposed strict amendments.
The Bundestag is proposing to ban social media for children under 14
Meanwhile, Spain will become the second country after Australia to ban access to social media for minors under 16. Platforms must implement age verification systems.
France wants to bansocial media for children under 15.
