UK wants a social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds

The British government wants to implement a nighttime social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds. Apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube would then be inaccessible by default between midnight and 6 a.m., although users could disable this setting themselves.

In addition to this digital curfew, London also wants so-called “addictive” features, such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, to be disabled by default. According to the government, these combined measures should help young people sleep better, concentrate better in school, and spend more time with their family and friends.

These proposals follow an earlier plan to completely ban social media for young people under the age of 16. That measure, announced in June, is expected to take effect in the spring of 2027. The United Kingdom is thus taking another step forward in its online safety policy, but the proliferation of rules is also causing some confusion about exactly what applies to whom. Critics also believe that these proposals do not go far enough.

Ellen Roome, who believes her 14-year-old son died in 2022 after an online challenge went wrong, told the BBC that the measure is insufficient, as teenagers can simply disable these settings. Baroness Kidron, for her part, argued that the goal is not to keep children away from technology, but to keep technology away from harmful content.

Child rights experts have also expressed reservations. Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics warned on BBC News that a curfew could be useful in combating late-night reports, but that it could backfire if young people were no longer able to seek help when they need it most. The UK Children’s Commissioner, Rachel de Souza, says that young people do not want a ban, but rather protection from endless scrolling.

The government says it is also committed to ensuring the safe use of AI-based chatbots for minors, particularly through mandatory breaks. According to Technology Minister Kanishka Narayan, this approach will make the United Kingdom “one of the strictest countries in the world” when it comes to technology regulation. At the same time, London is currently refusing to crack down on VPNs, as they also have legitimate uses.

The new rules are expected to be submitted to Parliament by the end of 2026 and will form part of the general ban for those under 16 that will take effect in 2027.