The UK government has proposed new measures to protect older teenagers on social media, including a six-hour social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds. Starting next spring, these users will be encouraged to refrain from using certain apps from midnight to 6 a.m. While the block will be switched on by default, it will not be mandatory, and teens will be able to opt out by changing their account settings.
The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, but will not include messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal. In addition to the curfew, the government intends to implement limits on addictive features, such as infinite scrolling, to reduce excessive social media use.
These measures increase the scope of proposed bans already intended for younger children. Although the plan aims to protect older teens, some young people have expressed disagreement with aspects of the government's proposed block.