The government has announced that older teenagers in the UK will face an overnight social media curfew by default, with apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube set to be unavailable to 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 06:00. The measure, which teenagers can opt out of by changing their account settings, is part of a broader push to limit what the government calls “addictive” features like auto-play and infinite scroll, promising improved focus, sleep quality and family life.
But campaigners have dismissed the plan as a “missed opportunity” because the curfew is not mandatory. Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in an online challenge in 2022, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I just think it's not good enough really just to have a product you can switch off, it's a bit like offering a 17-year-old a bottle of alcohol and then moving it slightly out of arms reach, they can just drag it back in, I really wish they could go stronger and harder on these things.”
“Government proposes midnight social media curfew for 16-17 year olds, but campaigners criticise opt-out clause.”
The new proposals follow June’s announcement that under-16s in the UK would be banned entirely from a range of platforms, adding to a complex — and potentially confusing — mix of policies from the government and tech firms aimed at keeping young people safe online. Measures already include optional parental controls and child-only versions of popular sites such as YouTube.
Lorna Woods, professor of internet law at Essex University, told the BBC she felt the measure was designed to target apprehensions from parents and child safety groups. “There have been concerns about the way services keep children and young people engaged on their phones for long periods, and that this can impact their sleep, amongst other effects,” she said.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has previously said it wants age verification to be handled by device manufacturers rather than placing the onus entirely on platforms. Apple recently introduced such “device level” age checks, meaning anyone using iPhones and iPads with the latest operating software will be asked to verify their ages.
Baroness Kidron, a prominent campaigner for safety measures at device rather than app level, was critical of the government’s approach. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said it should not be about “banning children from tech” but “banning tech from putting toxic products in the hands of children”.
Online safety minister Kanishka Narayan defended the action the government has taken, saying on BBC One’s Breakfast programme that the combination of the curfew and limiting auto-play… [text cut off in source]