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, requiring apps to be disabled by default between midnight and 6:00 AM. While officials argue this will improve sleep and focus, critics have dismissed the plan as ineffective because users can easily opt out of the settings.
Why it matters
This represents a significant escalation in government efforts to regulate digital platform usage and protect the mental health of minors.
Image source, Getty Images By Liv McMahon and Philippa Wain , Technology reporters Published 17 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 means 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.
However, critics have described the proposals as "piecemeal" and a "missed opportunity" for children's safety.
The plans follow the announcement in June that under-16s in the UK would be banned entirely from a range of platforms.
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