Midnight social media curfew proposed for older UK teens
Summary
The UK government plans to introduce a default overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, blocking apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube between midnight and 6 a.m. Teenagers can opt out by adjusting their account settings. The government also wants to disable addictive features such as auto-play and infinite scroll to improve teens’ sleep, focus, and family life.Key Facts
- The curfew applies to 16 and 17-year-olds by default but can be turned off by users.
- Social media apps affected include Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
- Addictive features like auto-play and infinite scroll would be disabled under new rules.
- The UK already announced a ban for under-16s on many social media platforms starting next spring.
- The government trialed different restrictions, finding overnight curfews gave the best sleep and family time benefits.
- Critics say the curfew may not fully protect children and could limit access to support during nighttime.
- Plans for AI chatbot safety measures include required breaks for users under 18.
- The government aims to introduce these measures by the end of 2026 to work alongside the under-16 social media ban.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
