The government has announced that older teenagers in the UK will face a default overnight social media curfew, with automatic disabling of addictive features – but critics have dismissed the plans as “a dog’s dinner” that users can simply opt out of.
Under the proposals, apps including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube will be set to unavailable by default for 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 6am. Addictive functions such as auto-play and infinite scroll will also be switched off by default. However, teenagers can override the restrictions by changing their account settings.
“UK 16-17 year olds face default social media curfew from midnight to 6am, but can opt out.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the measures would 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”. She added: “We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive.”
The government’s plans follow a study that found overnight curfews improved sleep and concentration. They come alongside a wider ban on social media for under-16s, announced in June, which is due to take effect next spring. The new curfew for older teens is expected to be laid before parliament by the end of 2026.
But the opt-out provision has drawn sharp criticism. Laura Trott, the Conservative shadow education secretary, called the proposals “another dog’s dinner from Labour”. “Either they think 16 and 17-year-olds should be on social media or they don’t, but curfews they can simply switch off won’t achieve anything,” she said.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, described the announcement as “yet another piecemeal set of announcements not the comprehensive plan for children’s safety that’s required”. He added that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “leaves office having announced a social media ban without a plan”, with his likely successor Andy Burnham set to “inherit a series of missed opportunities”.
Professor Sonia Livingstone, an expert in children’s digital rights at the London School of Economics, warned that a curfew could harm vulnerable children by limiting their access to social media when they might need it most. “If it’s a curfew on companies using push notifications to wake someone up in the night, absolutely have a curfew,” she said, though her full remarks were cut off in the source.
Other detractors pointed to the apparent contradiction in Labour’s stance, allowing 16-year-olds to vote while policing their online activity. The government insists the policy strikes a balance, but with the opt-out mechanism intact, the effectiveness of the curfew remains in doubt.
