Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom have rejected a proposal to impose an Australia-style ban on social media for children under 16, instead backing plans that would give ministers broader and more flexible powers to regulate young people’s access online.

The proposed ban targeted platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Australia introduced a similar nationwide ban for under-16s late last year, becoming the first country to adopt such a restriction. In January, peers in the House of Lords also expressed support for similar action in the UK.

Supporters of a ban included actor Hugh Grant. However, critics such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) warned that an outright prohibition could push young people toward less regulated and potentially more dangerous parts of the internet.

The Conservative Party (UK) argued that the situation amounted to an “emergency” and called for legislation to protect children online. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats (UK) said the government’s refusal to commit to a ban was “simply not good enough”.

Opposition also came from the father of Molly Russell, the teenager who died at the age of 14 after viewing harmful online content. He argued that authorities should prioritise stricter enforcement of existing online safety laws rather than introducing a blanket ban.

The proposal for a social media ban had been introduced as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

However, during a debate in the House of Commons on Monday, Education Minister Olivia Bailey urged MPs to reject the measure and support a more adaptable regulatory approach.

“Many parents and campaign groups have called for an outright ban on social media for under-16s,” Bailey said.

“Others, including children’s charities, have warned that a blanket ban could drive children towards less regulated corners of the internet or leave teenagers unprepared when they do come online.”

She noted that the government has launched a consultation to gather public views on how best to ensure children develop a “safer, healthier and more enriching relationship with the online world.”

The consultation will explore options such as introducing a minimum age requirement for social media platforms and disabling potentially addictive features like autoplay.

Under the government’s alternative plan, Liz Kendall, the UK’s Science Secretary, would be granted powers to restrict or ban access to social media and chatbots for children of certain ages. The powers could also be used to limit harmful or addictive features on platforms.

In addition, Kendall could be authorised to restrict children’s use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and review the country’s digital consent age.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott from the Conservative Party pressed the government to impose stricter measures, including a clear age limit for social media use and a ban on mobile phones in schools.

She said research suggests “40% of children are shown explicit content during the school day”, adding: “That’s happening right now. This is an emergency. No more guidance, no more consultations. Legislate, do something about it.”

In the final vote, MPs rejected the House of Lords proposal for a blanket ban by 307 votes to 173, while backing Bailey’s plan, which leaves open the possibility of targeted restrictions in the future.

More than 100 MPs from the governing Labour Party (UK) abstained during the vote, including Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset.

Speaking during the debate, Al-Hassan compared the potential harms of social media to dangerous medicines.

“Parents like me are locked in a daily battle that they simply cannot win alone, fighting platforms that have been specifically designed to keep children hooked,” he said.

“As a pharmacist, I know if a drug were causing such measurable harm for 78%, it would be withdrawn, reformulated or placed behind a counter with strict controls on who could access it.”

At least six people have lost their lives and more than a dozen others have been injured after destructive tornadoes tore through parts of the United States, striking the states of Michigan and Oklahoma during a wave of severe storms.

Officials confirmed that four people died in southern Michigan, including a 12-year-old boy, while two others were killed in Oklahoma on Friday. Emergency crews are continuing rescue and recovery operations as authorities assess the full extent of the destruction left behind by the powerful storms.

The violent weather uprooted trees, knocked down power lines, damaged buildings and tore roofs from homes across affected communities.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the dangerous weather system may persist into the weekend. Forecasters said thunderstorms and possible flash flooding could affect areas stretching from the Great Plains down to Texas.

In Michigan, the Branch County Sheriff’s Department reported that three people were killed and 12 others were injured near Union City after a tornado swept through the area on Friday. Authorities also warned residents to expect road closures and power outages through the weekend as recovery efforts continue.

Roughly 50 miles (80 km) away in Cass County, officials confirmed another fatality and several injuries following storm damage.

Authorities said the tornado caused extensive destruction across the county.

“Multiple large structures — including homes and pole barns — sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction,” officials said in a statement.

Hundreds of residents were also left without electricity after the storm passed through the area.

Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach announced on Saturday that a 12-year-old boy, Silas Anderson, died from weather-related injuries in Edwardsburg.

“Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing,” the sheriff’s office said in a message shared on social media.

Emergency management teams said search and recovery efforts are ongoing as responders continue combing through damaged neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, emergency officials reported that a tornado carved a path of destruction roughly four miles (6.4 km) long through Okmulgee County, located about 30 miles (48 km) south of Tulsa.

County emergency manager Jeff Moore said crews are working urgently to clear debris and restore access to affected areas.

“We’re just getting everywhere as fast as we can, clearing roads as fast we can,” Moore said.

Authorities confirmed that two people were killed in Beggs, according to the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

In response to the devastation, Kevin Stitt, governor of Oklahoma, declared a state of emergency for several counties, including Alfalfa, Creek, Grant, Major, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner.

An overnight explosion at the United States embassy in Oslo may have been an act of terrorism, according to police in Norway.

The blast occurred in the early hours of Sunday at the embassy of the United States, causing minor damage to the building but leaving no injuries reported.

Frode Larsen, head of the police joint investigation and intelligence unit, said authorities were considering terrorism as one possible explanation.

“One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism, but we are not completely locked into it,” Larsen told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

He later added that investigators must remain open to other possible causes behind the explosion.

Police said “large resources” were dispatched to the area around the embassy at about 01:00 local time (00:00 GMT). Officers are now investigating the incident while maintaining close contact with U.S. diplomats.

Michael Dellemyr, who is leading the police response, said the explosion occurred near the public entrance to the embassy building, located in the Morgedalsvegen district about 7km (4 miles) outside Oslo’s city centre.

Authorities have searched the surrounding area and issued an appeal for information from anyone who may have seen or heard anything connected to the blast.

Images circulating on social media appear to show shattered glass in the snow outside the entrance to the consular section of the building, cracks in a glass door and dark marks on the tiled floor.

Norwegian officials condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the protection of diplomatic missions remains a priority for Norway, stressing that “the security of diplomatic missions is very important to us.”