MPs reject ban on social media for under-16s

Ban could still be introduced in future after Commons back government bid to give extra powers to secretary of state A proposed ban on social media for under-16s has been rejected by MPs. Parliamentarians voted 307 to 173, majority 134, against the proposed change to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill, which was brought forward by Conservative peer and former minister John Nash. The age limit had been backed by peers earlier this year after growing calls from campaigners including the actor Hugh Grant. However, a ban could still materialise in the future after the Commons supported a government attempt to give additional powers to the secretary of state. Supporters of the ban said parents are in “an impossible position” over the online harms their children are being exposed to but others, including the NSPCC, warned such legislation could drive teenagers into unregulated corners of the internet. In January, Australia introduced the world’s first social media ban for under-16s. Under the amendment in lieu, the science secretary, Liz Kendall, could “restrict or ban children of certain ages from accessing social media services and chatbots”. She could also limit children’s VPN