UK Government Sets Midnight Social Media Curfew for 16‑ and 17‑Year‑Olds

The United Kingdom government announced a plan to impose a default overnight curfew on social‑media apps for 16‑ and 17‑year‑old users. Accounts for this age group would be blocked from midnight to 06:00 a.m. on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, unless the teenager disables the setting in their account.

In addition to the time restriction, the proposal would switch off features identified as “addictive”, including auto‑play videos, infinite scrolling feeds, livestreaming and stranger‑chat functions. AI‑driven chatbot services would be required to enforce a minimum age of 18 and to provide regular breaks for users under 18.

The measures follow a pilot study of more than 300 teens and parents that reported improved sleep, better concentration and more family time. The plan was presented by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Online‑Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan. It is intended to complement a forthcoming ban on social‑media use for under‑16s, with both sets of regulations slated for parliamentary approval by the end of 2026 and implementation in spring 2027. Critics note that the curfew is opt‑out and question its enforceability.