UK unveils default overnight social media block for 16 and 17-year-olds
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The UK government has formally set out plans for a default overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, under which apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube would be unavailable between midnight and 6am unless teenagers change their settings. Ministers say the measure is meant to help older teenagers sleep better, concentrate on school or college and spend more time offline with family and friends. It matters because the policy is being presented as a first-of-its-kind restriction for this age group in the UK and forms part of a broader effort to tighten online safety rules for children and teenagers.
The curfew would apply by default rather than as a total ban, meaning 16 and 17-year-olds could opt out, which campaigners immediately criticised as a significant loophole. The government also said it plans to curb features it considers addictive, including autoplay and infinite scroll. The proposal follows last month’s announcement of a full ban for under-16s, which ministers said would be legislated later in 2026 and take effect in early 2027; that wider policy has already drawn opposition from major US tech companies, including YouTube.
- UK plans default midnight-to-6am social media block for older teens
- 16 and 17-year-olds could switch the curfew off
- Move is part of a wider UK online safety crackdown
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Social media services such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are widely used by teenagers for messaging, entertainment, news and sharing content. Concerns about their effect on sleep, attention and wellbeing have led governments in several countries to consider tighter rules for younger users.
In the UK, online safety policy has increasingly focused on the responsibilities of technology companies to protect children from harmful or unsuitable content. Ministers, regulators, parents’ groups and digital rights campaigners often disagree over how far restrictions should go and whether they can work without limiting young people’s independence or access to information.
The proposed approach distinguishes between younger children and older teenagers. A default setting can be changed by the user, unlike a legal ban, while features such as autoplay and endless feeds are designed to keep people watching or scrolling for longer.
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Originally published by Deadline as “UK Government Unveils Plan For Midnight Social Media Curfew For Older Teens”.