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.
It would mean apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube being set to be unavailable by default to 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 06:00.
The government also wants "addictive" features such as auto-play and infinite scroll to be set to be disabled, saying - combined with the curfew - the measures will improve teenagers' focus, sleep quality and family life.
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