UK plans overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds

The UK government has unveiled plans to introduce an overnight social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17 as part of a broader package of online safety measures aimed at reducing excessive social media use among young people.

Under the proposed rules, social media platforms would be required to block affected users’ access by default between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Teenagers would be able to opt out by changing their account settings, but the restriction would automatically apply unless disabled. The proposals would also require platforms to turn off features designed to encourage prolonged engagement, such as infinite scrolling, during the overnight period.

The announcement follows the government’s earlier proposal to introduce a broader ban on social media use for children under 16. Together, the measures reflect increasing concern among policymakers about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health, sleep, and well-being.

According to the government, the new restrictions are intended to encourage healthier online habits and reduce late-night screen time. Technology Minister Liz Kendall said the measures would help young people ‘get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends.’

Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan stated that technology companies would be legally required to implement the default curfew. He also said platforms would be expected to carry out stronger age verification checks and warned that companies failing to comply could face significant regulatory penalties.

The government said the first set of regulations will be presented to Parliament by the end of 2026, with the measures expected to take effect in spring 2027, subject to the legislative process.