Midnight social media curfews and infinite scroll limit for U.K. teens

As tech giants continue to face scrutiny over online security, the UK government on Wednesday proposed new measures to protect older teens on social media, including a midnight curfew and an infinite scroll limit.

Teens ages 16 to 17 will face a default nightly curfew from midnight to 12 a.m., and addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay will be automatically turned off. the government said on Wednesday. However, teens will have the option to turn off these settings.

It is expected to come into force in spring 2027.

The measures came after a while social media restriction case Positive results were achieved, with young people saying that a nightly curfew improved sleep and concentration. More than 300 young people and parents from across the UK attended the hearing

The social media trial, which involved more than 300 young people and parents across the UK, lasted a month and saw young people tested with three different types of interventions; These include limiting app use to 15 minutes a day, a nightly curfew between 21:00 and 07:00, and completely removing certain social media applications.

It found that participants saw a range of mental health benefits, including improved mood, less stress and better daytime energy. However, they also noted a “social and emotional exchange” as social media became central to their interactions with friends who did not face restrictions.

As a result, a nightly curfew became the most preferred method to balance health benefits with young people’s social needs.

In June, outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a blanket social media ban on young people under 16. This comes after Australia became the first country in the world to impose a legal ban in December. The UK’s ban will apply to platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.