Midnight social media curfew proposed for older UK teens
The UK government has proposed an overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, though users can opt out via settings. The plan also aims to disable addictive features like infinite scroll to improve youth well-being.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in digital regulation, balancing child safety with personal autonomy and platform responsibility.
Image source, Getty Images By Liv McMahon and Philippa Wain , Technology reporters Published 14 July 2026 Updated 3 minutes ago Older teenagers in the UK will face an overnight social media curfew, the government has announced - though they will be able to opt out of it by changing their account settings.
Presents both the government's rationale and the criticism from campaigners.
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