UK Announces Overnight Social Media Curfew for Teenagers

LONDON: (News Desk) – The UK government has announced plans to introduce an overnight social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17, expanding its efforts to reduce the impact of excessive online activity on young people.

Under the proposed measures, users aged 16 and 17 will face restrictions on accessing platforms such as Instagram and Facebook between midnight and 6:00 a.m. The government said the policy is designed to encourage healthier sleep habits, improve concentration in education and promote more time with family and friends.

In addition to the overnight curfew, the government plans to introduce default settings that disable potentially addictive features, including infinite scrolling, for older teenagers. However, users will have the option to turn these settings off, prompting concerns from critics about how effective the measures will be in practice.

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The announcement follows last month’s decision by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to ban social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, for children under the age of 16. Those restrictions are expected to take effect in early 2027.

Technology Minister Liz Kendall said that while teenagers gain greater independence at the age of 16, they should still be protected from online features that may negatively affect their wellbeing.

The new proposals also include safeguards for artificial intelligence chatbots, requiring users under 18 to take regular breaks while using AI-powered platforms.

While many child welfare organizations have welcomed the proposed reforms as an important step toward improving online safety, some experts have warned that stricter restrictions could encourage young people to access the internet through less secure methods.

The UK joins a growing number of countries introducing tighter controls on children’s social media use. Australia became the first country to ban social media access for those under 16, while Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia have also announced or implemented similar restrictions.