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News · 26 March 2026

UK Moves Closer to Banning Social Media for Under-16s — But Government Pushback Grows

UK Moves Closer to Banning Social Media for Under-16s — But Government Pushback Grows

Unsplash / Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

The UK House of Lords has backed a strict ban on social media for under-16s, rejecting the government’s plan to delay the decision through consultation. Peers voted strongly in favour, signalling rising political pressure to act on concerns around children’s mental health and addictive platforms. However, the government remains cautious, preferring further study before committing to a full ban. The move sets up a clash between lawmakers and ministers over how far to go in regulating young people’s access to social media.

Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs

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