The UK government will encourage 16- and 17-year-olds to observe a midnight social media curfew, with a default block on certain apps from midnight to 6am, as part of Labour's effort to protect young people from online harms, including poor sleep. The curfew, announced by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, is not mandatory and can be overridden by users.
Extension of under-16 ban
This move extends the under-16 social media ban announced last month, which restricted platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The government stopped short of restricting VPN use, as only 7-10% of children use them to bypass age checks, and officials are concerned about free speech implications.
Criticism and support
The Molly Rose Foundation criticized the measures as “yet another piecemeal set of announcements, not the comprehensive plan for children’s safety that’s required.” Beeban Kidron of the 5Rights Foundation said the default curfew that can be switched off is “for show and headlines, not for children.” However, Kendall stated that a public consultation showed parents and children want protections from addictive features that harm wellbeing.
Additional restrictions
Features that encourage prolonged scrolling, such as autoplay videos and personalized feeds, will also be switched off by default for older teenagers, but can be overridden. The government aims to avoid a “cliff edge” of sudden exposure to addictive features at age 16.
Research findings
In May, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) commissioned Savanta to test restrictions. Curfews from 9pm to 7am were found most manageable, improving sleep quality, concentration, and family time. Downsides included feelings of isolation and irritability, with some parents comparing initial adjustment to withdrawal. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage were exempt.
