L

Lord Young of Acton (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 16 June 2026

Debate

Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Contribution

My Lords, I declare an interest as the director of the Free Speech Union. I have read through the DSIT document published yesterday, Growing Up in the Online World: Progress Statement, but I could not find a single reference to Sections 15 or 16 of the Online Safety Act: namely, the duty not to remove or restrict content of democratic importance or journalistic content. Those duties, due to be activated I believe in July before the plan is put into effect, apply to all users, not just adults. How is the plan compatible with those duties? I know the plan includes some restrictions for 16 and 17 year-olds. Can the Minister assure the House that content of democratic importance and journalistic content will not be restricted for 16 and 17 year-olds, which is particularly important given that the Government intend to grant them the vote?

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