The UK government has unveiled new plans to introduce a voluntary overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds as part of a wider effort to protect young people’s wellbeing online.
Under the proposal, social media platforms will automatically block access for users in that age group between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless they choose to disable the default setting.
The measures, announced by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, also include switching off features such as infinite scrolling and introducing mandatory breaks for teenagers using artificial intelligence chatbots.
Kendall said the changes are intended to encourage healthier digital habits among young people.
“These measures will help young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends, all of which are essential to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life.
“We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive,” she said.
According to The Independent, platforms will be expected to disable engagement-driven features such as endless video reels and algorithm-powered feeds by default for older teenagers.
However, the proposal has attracted criticism because users aged 16 and 17 will still be able to switch off the restrictions themselves.
The latest move follows the government’s announcement last month of a broader social media ban for children under 16.
The proposed restrictions, expected to take effect next spring, would apply to platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X, but would not cover messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal.
The report also said responsibility for finalising key aspects of the policy is expected to fall to Andy Burnham, who is set to become prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election.
Beyond social media, the government is proposing stronger safeguards for children using artificial intelligence. These include mandatory breaks during chatbot use and stricter oversight of AI services that provide mental health advice, particularly where the information is considered misleading, harmful or unverified.
Officials are also considering banning AI chatbots judged to pose a serious risk to children.
Reacting to the proposal, Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott dismissed the plan, arguing that restrictions teenagers can easily disable are unlikely to have any real impact. She described the policy as “anotherdog’s dinner from Labour.”
