Midnight social media curfew, infinite scrolling limits proposed for older teens
The U.K. government has proposed new safety measures for 16- and 17-year-olds, including a midnight social media curfew and restrictions on addictive features like infinite scrolling. These proposals follow successful trials that indicated improved sleep and mental health among teens when such restrictions were applied.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in government policy toward regulating social media design to protect adolescent mental health and well-being.
The U.K. government on Wednesday proposed new measures to protect older teens on social media, including a midnight curfew and a limit to infinite scrolling, as tech giants continue to face scrutiny over online safety.
Teens between the ages of 16 and 17 years old will face a default overnight curfew from midnight to 12 a.m., and addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay will be automatically switched off, the government said Wednesday . However, teens will have the option to switch off these settings.
It's expected to go into force by Spring 2027.
The measures came after a social media restriction trial demonstrated positive results with teens saying an overnight curfew improved sleep and concentration. The trial involved more than 300 teens and parents across the U.K.
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