UK Introduces Overnight Social Media Curfew for Teenagers

The United Kingdom has announced new measures aimed at reducing excessive social media use among teenagers aged 16 and 17.

Under the plan unveiled by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, social media platforms will introduce a voluntary overnight curfew that blocks access by default between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The policy also includes disabling infinite scrolling features and requiring regular breaks for young users interacting with AI chatbots.

Kendall said the measures are designed to help teenagers get enough sleep, concentrate better on their education, and spend more time with family and friends while still benefiting from digital technology.

The government will also require platforms to switch off features such as endless video feeds and algorithm-driven content by default for teenagers. However, critics argue that the policy may have limited impact because 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to disable the default settings themselves.

The new initiative follows the UK government's broader plan to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16, with the rules expected to affect platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, and X from next spring.

In addition, the government is considering stronger safeguards for children using artificial intelligence, including mandatory breaks during chatbot use and tougher action against AI services that provide harmful or misleading mental health advice.

Opposition politicians have criticised the proposals, arguing that curfews that teenagers can easily turn off are unlikely to achieve the intended results.

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