UK government proposes overnight social media curfew for older teens

The UK government has proposed an overnight social media curfew for older teenagers.

The UK government has proposed an overnight social media curfew for older teenagers.

Last month, the government announced that all under-16s in the UK would be banned from a range of social media platforms, but now the measures look to go further.

under the new proposal, 16 and 17-year-olds wouldn’t be able to use apps like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube between midnight and 6am.

The government hopes that the curfew and other measures – including disabling “addictive” features like auto-play and infinite scroll – could improve focus, family life and sleep quality.

It’s noted that teens will be able to opt out of the curfew but changing account settings, but it’s not known how this will work.

Currently, parents can control their child’s screen time via devices or individual apps.

Some people feel the measures fall short, especially given teens will be able to switch the setting off.

Campaigner Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in 2022 following an online challenge gone wrong, told BBC Radio 4’s Today show that the government needs to do more.

She said: “I just think it’s not good enough really just to have a product you can switch off.

“It’s a bit like offering a 17-year-old a bottle of alcohol and then moving it slightly out of arms reach, they can just drag it back in, I really wish they could go stronger and harder on these thing.”

The Tory’s shadow education secretary Laura Trott argued that the plans are a “dog’s dinner”, adding: “Either they think 16 and 17-year-olds should be on social media or they don’t, but curfews they can simply switch off won’t achieve anything.”

However, online safety minister Kanishka Narayan insisted the combination of policies will make the UK “the most robust place in the world when it comes to regulating” companies.

And Technology Secretary Liz Kendall insisted the measures are “crucial in helping 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 fundamental to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life”.

She added in a statement: “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.”