The British government has introduced plans to encourage teenagers aged 16 and 17 to observe a midnight to 6am social media curfew beginning next spring. The measure forms part of the government’s broader effort to mitigate online harms affecting young people, particularly issues related to sleep disruption caused by late-night platform use. The curfew will apply as a default setting but will not be mandatory, allowing users to disable the restriction if they choose to do so.
The announcement represents an extension of previously introduced restrictions targeting children under 16, which restrict access to platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. For the older teenage group, the government plans to disable features designed to encourage prolonged engagement, such as autoplay video functionality and algorithmically personalized content feeds. These features will similarly be available to re-enable through a straightforward process. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall characterized the approach as a means to prevent a sudden transition in content exposure once teenagers reach age 16.
Research commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology examined three restriction models: daily time limits of 15 minutes, overnight access blocks from 9pm to 7am, and complete app deletion. Testing indicated that overnight curfews proved the most enforceable and produced the most consistent sleep quality improvements. Benefits observed in trial participants included earlier bedtimes, increased alertness during educational activities, reduced stress levels, and greater family interaction time. Negative effects included feelings of social disconnection and initial irritability during adjustment periods.
The government declined to impose restrictions on virtual private networks, which can circumvent age verification measures, citing free speech considerations. Official data indicated only 7 to 10 percent of young people reported using VPNs specifically to bypass age restrictions. Child safety advocates have offered mixed responses to the measures, with some organizations criticizing the approach as insufficient and noting that default settings with override options may prove ineffective without stronger enforcement mechanisms. The government also announced plans to encourage regular breaks for users under 18 engaging with AI chatbots.
Originally reported by The Guardian. Read the full story →