LONDON, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Britain's upper house of parliament voted Wednesday in favour of banning under?16s from using social media, raising pressure on the government to match a similar ban passed in Australia. Calls have risen across the opposition and within the governing Labour party for the UK to follow Australia, where under?16s have been barred from social media applications since December 10. "This vote begins the process of stopping the catastrophic harm that social media is inflicting on a generation." More than 60 Labour MPs have urged Starmer to back a ban. Public figures including actor Hugh Grant urged the government to back the proposal, saying parents alone cannot counter social media harms.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 22, 2026 02:46 UTC