The UK government has proposed a midnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, plus limits on infinite scrolling. The UK social media curfew would switch on by default, though teens could turn it off.
The government set out the measures on Wednesday, as CNBC first reported. It said the plan aims to protect older teens as scrutiny of tech giants grows.
Under the proposal, 16 and 17-year-olds would face a default overnight curfew from midnight to 6am. Addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay would switch off automatically. Teens could turn the settings back on, the government said.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the plan followed a clear message from parents and teenagers. “Even as young people gain greater independence at 16, they should still be protected from the most addictive online features that can have a harmful impact on their wellbeing,” she said.
The 💜 of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Kendall said the measures would help young people get more sleep, focus on school, and spend more time with family and friends. The first regulations would go before Parliament by the end of this year. The government expects them to come into force by spring 2027.
