UK unveils all-night social media curfew for older teens / Image: Getty Images
16-17-year-olds in the UK could soon face a night-time social media curfew under government proposals aimed at reducing excessive screen time and limiting exposure to addictive online features.The plans will introduce default settings that prevent users in this age group from accessing social media between midnight and 6am. Other features designed to keep users engaged, including infinite scrolling and algorithm-driven content feeds, will also be turned off by default.These measures form part of Labour’s wider efforts to strengthen online protection for young people. Technology Minister Liz Kendall said: “These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends.”The government said consultations with parents and teenagers indicated support for maintaining certain safeguards as young people gain more independence at the age of 16. A trial involving more than 300 participants also suggested that limiting access to social media during the night could help improve sleep patterns and concentration, Sky News reported.The curfew proposal follows recent plans to impose a ban on social media use for children under 16, and is expected to come into effect next spring. The ban is based on a model used in Australia and is likely to apply to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, while messaging services such as WhatsApp will not be included.Alongside these measures, the government plans to publish guidance on the safe use of AI and expand media literacy teaching in schools from September as part of its broader online safety strategy.