The UK government has announced plans to introduce a default overnight curfew on social media apps for 16 and 17-year-olds, expanding its wider effort to regulate young people’s access to online platforms.
Under the proposal, teenagers in this age group will automatically be prevented from using social media between midnight and 6 am, unless they choose to change the default setting. The government also plans to disable features designed to encourage prolonged use, including videos that play automatically one after another.
The measures are intended to provide added safeguards for teenagers who become eligible to use social media after turning 16, while reducing the impact of late-night screen time.
Also Read | UK heatwaves turned deadly: Study estimates over 2,700 heat-related deaths
Focus on sleep and wellbeing
The government said the changes are aimed at helping teenagers maintain healthier routines by limiting overnight use of social media.
“These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends,” Technology minister Liz Kendall said in a statement, NDTV reported.
The announcement reflects growing concern among governments and parents over the impact of excessive social media use on the mental and physical health of young people.
Study backs overnight restrictions
The decision follows the publication of a study on Tuesday that examined the effects of limiting social media use.
According to the findings, restrictions on overnight access resulted in improvements in sleep, concentration and overall wellbeing. Researchers also found that a nighttime curfew was the easiest rule for families to maintain and delivered the most consistent improvements in sleep patterns.
Wider social media reforms planned
The overnight curfew forms part of a broader package of online safety measures. The UK government has already proposed a sweeping ban on social media access for children under the age of 16.
Officials said the first set of regulations will be presented before Parliament by the end of this year, with the new rules expected to take effect in spring 2027. The government also said it would ensure “robust implementation and enforcement”.
Also Read | Prince Harry suffers setback as UK judge throws out tabloid privacy case
The announcement comes as countries around the world continue exploring ways to regulate children’s access to social media. However, a team advising Australia, the first country to introduce a social media ban for children, recently found that age-verification systems remain difficult to enforce.
Separately, Google and TikTok have each settled a lawsuit in the United States filed by a minor who alleged that social media platforms had harmed his mental health.
FAQs:
Who will be affected by the UK’s midnight social media curfew?
The proposed default curfew will apply to 16- and 17-year-olds.
What time will the social media curfew apply?
Social media access will be blocked by default between midnight and 6 am unless users change the setting.
