UK Proposes Nighttime Social Media Curfew for Teens Under 18 to Boost Wellbeing

The UK government announced plans on Wednesday to impose a nighttime curfew on social media use for teenagers aged 16 and 17, as part of broader legislation aiming to ban social media access for those under 16. Under the proposal, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube would be unavailable to these teens between midnight and 6 a.m. Additionally, features like autoplay and infinite scrolling would be disabled. Officials argue these measures will improve teenagers' concentration, sleep quality, and family life.

Last month, the UK government revealed intentions to advance legislation prohibiting social media use by minors, with Technology Minister Liz Kendall calling the steps "critical." The government also plans to introduce regulations ensuring safe use of artificial intelligence tools and safety measures for users under 18. The legislation is expected to be presented to Parliament by the end of this year, aiming for enforcement by spring next year.

Similar laws have been enacted internationally: Australia implemented a law last December banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts, though a study found over 85% of minors circumvented the restrictions within seven months. In January, France's National Assembly approved a key provision banning social media access for children and teenagers under 15.

These moves reflect growing global efforts to regulate youth social media use amid concerns about mental health and safety.