The United Kingdom government has unveiled plans for a midnight social media curfew aimed at teenagers aged 16 and 17 as part of efforts to strengthen online safety and support young people’s wellbeing. Under the proposed rules, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube would automatically restrict access between midnight and 6:00 a.m., although teenagers could remove the setting through their accounts.
The government believes the social media curfew will help improve sleep patterns, increase focus in schools and colleges, and encourage young people to spend more meaningful time with family and friends. It also wants technology companies to disable features linked to excessive use, including auto-play and infinite scrolling, for older teenagers by default.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the proposals represent an important move towards a safer digital space. She 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, all of which are fundamental to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life.”
The planned social media curfew follows the government’s decision to stop children under 16 from accessing several social media platforms. Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan said combining overnight limits with restrictions on addictive features would place Britain among the world’s strongest regulators of technology companies.
The government also plans additional protections for children using artificial intelligence chatbots, including encouraging regular breaks for users under 18.
However, the proposals have faced criticism. Some child safety campaigners argue that allowing teenagers to switch off the curfew weakens its impact. Ellen Roome, whose son died after what she believes was an online challenge, said, “I just think it’s not good enough really just to have a product you can switch off,” adding that stronger action was needed.
Experts have also raised concerns that restricting access at night could prevent vulnerable young people from finding support when they need it. Professor Sonia Livingstone warned that a complete block could have harmful effects.
The legislation is expected to reach Parliament before the end of 2026.
Do you think a midnight social media curfew would make online spaces safer for teenagers?
