Midnight social media curfew planned for UK teens aged 16 and 17

Older teenagers in the UK could soon find their favourite social media apps automatically switching off at midnight under new government plans aimed at improving sleep, mental wellbeing and family life.

The proposals would see platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube set by default to become unavailable to 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 6am, although teenagers would still be able to disable the restriction by changing their account settings.

The plans are the latest step in the government's wider crackdown on children's social media use and follow last month's announcement that under-16s will be banned entirely from a range of social media platforms.

Tackling addictive features

Alongside the overnight curfew, ministers want social media companies to disable features designed to keep users online for longer, including infinite scrolling and auto-play.

The government believes limiting late-night screen time and reducing addictive content will help teenagers sleep better, improve concentration at school and encourage more time with family and friends.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the measures would allow young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while giving them greater protection online.

"We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive," she said.

Critics question effectiveness

The proposals have already drawn criticism from opposition politicians and child safety campaigners, who argue the measures do not go far enough.

Conservative Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott dismissed the plans as a "dog's dinner", arguing that a curfew teenagers can simply switch off is unlikely to have much impact.

Children's charities also questioned whether the proposals amount to a comprehensive strategy for online safety, warning that more decisive action may be needed to tackle the risks facing young people online.

Concerns over vulnerable teenagers

Some experts have also warned that a blanket overnight curfew could have unintended consequences.

Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics said restricting access to social media overnight could prevent vulnerable teenagers from seeking help or contacting trusted friends during times of crisis.

Others, however, support efforts to reduce addictive features rather than introducing an outright ban. England's Children's Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, said many young people want greater protection from endless scrolling but are not calling for social media to be prohibited altogether.

Trial found positive results

The government based its proposals on a month-long trial involving 300 teenagers, who tested different restrictions including complete app bans, one-hour daily limits and overnight curfews.

Officials said the midnight curfew produced the best results, with families reporting improved sleep, better communication at home and fewer arguments over screen time. Parents also found the overnight restriction easier to manage than other options.

The government intends to present the legislation to Parliament before the end of 2026, with the measures expected to come into force alongside the planned under-16 social media ban next spring.

Questions remain over how effective the rules will be, particularly as many teenagers are already familiar with tools such as VPNs and account setting changes that could allow them to bypass some restrictions. Even so, ministers say the proposals represent another important step in making the online world safer for young people.

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Yet more dystopian control measures from a desperate regime.