Lord Nash became emotional as he paid tribute to bereaved parents who campaigned for a change in the law following the deaths of their children.
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Tech companies have gone “way too far in prioritising their commercial instincts”, a Tory former minister said, as peers supported a social media ban for under-16s for the second time.
It comes after a jury in Los Angeles found that Google and Facebook owner Meta deliberately designed addictive products which harmed a 20-year-old’s mental health.
Lord Nash, who proposed the age limit as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, said “techies” have taken a “cavalier approach” to content damaging to children.
The House of Lords voted 266 to 141, majority 125 in favour of his amendment on Wednesday.
It is the second time the Conservative former minister has pushed for a ban on under-16s from social media, after MPs voted against it earlier this month.
The Commons instead agreed to give the Government wider and more flexible power.
Addressing the House of Lords on Wednesday, Lord Nash said: “I have been the director of tech companies in California.
“The Californian techies are some of the most able, innovative, entrepreneurial, wealth and job-creating people in the world.
“But in relation to that cavalier approach that they have taken to harmful content online for our children, I think they’ve gone way too far in prioritising their commercial instincts, and we need to act now in a way that is truly effective.
“I don’t think I need to spend much time talking about the clear evidence and causal link between social media and harm to our children.
“But I was horrified to hear (Technology Secretary) Liz Kendall on the radio say a few weeks ago that there is no proven causal link. All I can say is, where has she been?”
He said he has “no faith in the outcome of the consultation”, which is underway to help ministers decide how to lessen online harms.
Lord Nash became emotional as he paid tribute to bereaved parents who campaigned for a change in the law following the deaths of their children.
More than 20 family members sat in the gallery, including George and Areti Nicolaou, who clutched a photo of their son Christoforos, who took his own life after joining an online forum.
Technology minister Baroness Lloyd of Effra had earlier said: “Many noble Lords have declared that they do not support an under-16 ban but are supporting this amendment to push the Government to do more. I can assure the House that the Government will do more.”
She added: “We know many people support a social media ban for under-16s, but other respected voices are concerned it is not the right approach. That is why the Government’s consultation is the responsible path forward.
“The consultation seeks views on the areas raised by (Lord Nash’s) amendment and beyond, including harms from gaming and AI chatbots. We have already received over 30,000 responses from experts, parents and young people.”