The UK government has announced plans to introduce a default overnight social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17 as part of broader online safety reforms. Under the proposed rules, affected users will automatically lose access to social media apps between midnight and 6am unless they choose to manually change the default settings.
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In addition, the government plans to disable features that encourage prolonged scrolling during overnight hours by default, aiming to reduce excessive screen time among young users. Officials believe these measures will promote healthier sleeping habits, improve concentration in schools and colleges, and encourage teenagers to spend more meaningful time with family and friends.
The proposed rules will place legal responsibility on technology companies to introduce and enforce the new safeguards while strengthening age verification systems across their platforms. Authorities have warned that companies failing to meet the new legal requirements could face strict regulatory penalties, reflecting the government’s stronger approach to online child protection.
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However, the proposals have also attracted criticism from opposition lawmakers, who questioned whether optional curfews would achieve meaningful results if teenagers can simply disable the restrictions themselves. The debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing online freedom with stronger digital protections as governments worldwide respond to growing concerns about the effects of social media on young people.
The first set of regulations is expected to be presented to Parliament before the end of this year, with implementation planned for spring 2027. The initiative follows increasing international efforts to improve online safety, although recent experiences in other countries have shown that effective age verification and enforcement remain significant challenges for both governments and technology companies.