Labour has admitted it will force internet restrictions on young Britons, regardless of the outcome of a consultation on a social media ban.
The Government “will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions” on social media for under-16s whatever the consultation says, Education Minister Olivia Bailey told the Commons last night.
The concession by the Government comes after relentless pressure from the House of Lords over the issue, led by Tory Education Minister and academy chain founder Lord Nash.
Peers voted four times to press the Commons into forcing a ban onto the British people.
Ms Bailey told MPs: “On the remaining question on access to social media, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised across both Houses about the importance of the Government acting swiftly once the consultation has concluded.
“The Government has said repeatedly that it is a question of how we act, not if, but to put beyond any doubt, we are playing a clear statutory requirement that the Secretary of State must rather than may, act following the consultation.
“This brings forward regulations without pre-empting the consultation’s outcomes, and does not ignore the tens of thousands of parents and children who have already engaged with us.
“Let us be clear, the status quo cannot continue.
Labour has admitted it will force internet restrictions on young Britons
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“We are consulting on the mechanism, and that is the right thing to do. But we are clear that under any outcome, we will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16.
“I can also confirm that consideration of restrictions such as curfews will be in addition, not instead of this.”
The overwhelming push for a ban from campaigners, MPs and peers comes despite fears of censorship and Government overreach at home and abroad.
Just days ago, Baroness Fox warned that demands to ban social media for under-16s are “authoritarian” and driven by “moral panic”.
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Baroness Fox cautioned that once social media bans are introduced, they may not stop with children
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GETTY“Normalising censorship in the name of ‘safetyism’ is dangerous,” she said.
The crossbench peer also cautioned that once such powers are introduced, they may not stop with children.
“It could extend beyond 16… beyond 18,” she told a conference last week. “Who decides what is harmful?”
A week earlier, Sir Keir Starmer hauled in tech bosses from X, Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google to warn them that changes were urgently needed.
“Things can’t go on like this, they must change because right now social media is putting our children at risk,” he told assembled business leaders.
Sir Keir Starmer hauled in tech bosses from X, Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google just days ago
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“In a world in which children are protected, even if that means access is restricted, that is preferable to a world where harm is the price of participation.”
The opposition frontbench has fallen in line with the Government in calls for a ban, too – and has even criticised Labour for not imposing restrictions fast enough.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: “We now have a commitment on the floor of the House, from the Government, that they will impose an age restriction for children under 16, and this is in addition to, not instead of, any curfews.
“This is a huge step forward in keeping children safe and supporting parents in their fight against screens destroying children’s lives.
“Every month a delay just leaves children more exposed to the harms of social media online, so I urge the minister to keep to her words today and make sure that action is as swift as possible.”