The UK government will implement a default social media curfew from midnight to 6am for users aged 16 and 17, alongside disabling autoplay and infinite scroll features by default, while allowing teenagers the option to revert these settings.
- Midnight to 6am social media curfew for 16-17-year-olds begins soon
- Autoplay and infinite scroll features disabled by default for this group
- Complementary AI chatbot safety measures under development
What happened
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced the introduction of a default overnight social media curfew from midnight to 6am for UK users aged 16 and 17. This policy also includes switching off autoplay and infinite scroll features for these users by default, although teenagers can choose to disable these restrictions. The announcement was supported by a pilot study conducted by Savanta involving more than 300 teenagers and parents, which found that such curfews improved sleep quality and concentration among teenagers.
The pilot tested a broader curfew from 9pm to 7am for users aged 13 to 17, indicating significant potential benefits. This new curfew is intended to prevent a sudden gap once younger teens become subject to the government’s planned social media ban for under-16s, which is expected to take effect in the next spring following regulatory steps similar to those in Australia.
Why it matters
This initiative reflects the UK government’s growing focus on safeguarding children’s mental health and wellbeing by regulating social media use in younger demographics. The curfew aims to reduce teenagers' overnight exposure to digital content, which has been linked to sleep disruption and decreased concentration. Disabling autoplay and infinite scroll by default also targets addictive platform design elements, giving families greater control.
The announcement has drawn reactions from politicians, researchers, child safety advocates, and technology officials. While the government highlights pilot results supporting the measures, critics point to loopholes and challenges in enforcement. This policy fits into a broader digital safety agenda, which includes a ban on social media use for under-16s and forthcoming regulations addressing AI chatbot risks for minors, indicating intensified regulatory scrutiny.
What to watch next
The government is expected to formally lay out regulatory frameworks for these social media restrictions and AI chatbot safeguards before Parliament by the end of the year. Observers should monitor how the 16 and 17-year-old curfew is implemented in practice, including teenagers' ability to opt out of some settings, and how social media platforms comply with these new defaults.
Additionally, the government's plan to ban social media use altogether for under-16s is slated for rollout next spring, following the publication of a platform list similar to Australia's approach. Stakeholders should watch for further consultations and research outcomes, as well as lobbying responses from industry and civil society groups. Discussions about age verification and digital restrictions for children are gaining momentum internationally, as indicated by forums such as the upcoming MediaNama roundtable in Delhi.