Members of the UK Parliament have voted against a proposed amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill that sought to introduce a blanket ban on social media for children under the age of 16.

The proposal aimed to restrict young people from accessing platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Australia recently implemented a similar measure, becoming the first country to introduce nationwide restrictions on social media use for minors.

During debate in the House of Commons, Education Minister Olivia Bailey urged lawmakers to reject the amendment and instead support a more flexible regulatory framework. She acknowledged that many parents and campaign groups support a complete ban for under-16s but argued that the government believes a more balanced and targeted approach is necessary.

Under the government’s proposal, the UK Science Secretary Liz Kendall would be granted powers to restrict or ban specific age groups from accessing social media platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots if required.

Opponents of the blanket ban argued that the government should focus on strengthening the enforcement of existing online safety laws rather than introducing a total prohibition.

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson criticized the government’s position, saying it had failed to properly address the dangers posed by harmful online content. She urged the government to ensure that consultations on the issue do not lead to further delays in protecting children online.