Older teenagers in the UK will find their social media apps cut off by default between midnight and 6am, the government has announced – though they will be able to switch the setting back on. The measure, which targets platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, is part of a wider push to curb what ministers call “addictive” features like auto-play and infinite scroll. Combined, they say the changes will improve teenagers’ focus, sleep quality and family life.
But campaigners were swift to condemn the plan as toothless. Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in an online challenge gone wrong 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.”
“UK proposes default midnight curfew on social media for 16-17 year olds, but opt-out draws criticism.”
The move follows the announcement in June that under-16s in the UK would be banned entirely from a range of platforms. It creates a complex – and potentially confusing – mix of policies from the government and tech firms intended to keep young people safe online. Optional parental controls and child-only versions of popular sites such as YouTube already exist.
Lorna Woods, professor of internet law at Essex University, told the BBC 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.
Tech companies are split on how best to handle age verification. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has previously said it wants age checks handled by device manufacturers rather than platforms alone. Apple recently introduced such “device level” age verification, meaning anyone using iPhones and iPads with the latest software will be asked to verify their ages.
Baroness Kidron, a prominent campaigner for child safety, 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 on BBC One’s Breakfast programme, arguing that the combination of the curfew and limits on addictive features would make a real difference. The government has not yet said when the measures will come into force, leaving parents and teenagers waiting to see whether the opt-out clause will prove the policy’s strength – or its undoing.