- The House of Lords has, for the second time, supported a social media ban for under-16s, voting 266 to 141 in favour of an amendment proposed by Tory former minister Lord Nash.
- This decision follows an earlier rejection by MPs of a similar ban, with the Commons instead opting to grant the government broader and more flexible powers to address online harms.
- Lord Nash criticised "Californian techies" for their "cavalier approach" to content damaging to children, accusing them of prioritising commercial interests over child safety.
- The vote comes after a Los Angeles jury found Google and Meta designed deliberately addictive products that harmed a 20-year-old's mental health.
- Despite the Lords' support, the government is currently conducting a six-week pilot scheme involving 300 young people and a consultation to determine the best approach to lessen online harms.
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