Britain will introduce a default overnight curfew on social media apps for 16- and 17-year-olds as part of the government's bid to protect the next generation from online harms. Starting next spring, affected users will be blocked from using certain apps between midnight and 6am unless they change the default settings.
This move serves as an extension of a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, which restricts access to platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The government stated the measures aim to address issues such as poor sleep caused by night-time scrolling and include a crackdown on addictive app features.
Although the curfew will be switched on by default, it is not mandatory and teens will be able to opt out of the restrictions. Some campaigners have criticized these measures, describing them as being piecemeal.