UK proposes overnight social media curfew for 16-17 olds

The British government has announced plans to introduce a default overnight curfew on social media for 16 and 17-year-olds, alongside the automatic disabling of features like infinite scroll and autoplay. The measures, unveiled by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on July 14, 2026, are designed to protect older teenagers from the most addictive aspects of online platforms as part of a broader strategy to regulate children's digital lives.

Under the new proposals, social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and X would be set to block access by default for users aged 16 and 17 between midnight and 6 a.m. The teenagers would retain the ability to opt out by manually changing their account settings. Features engineered to prolong engagement, including never-ending video reels and algorithmic feeds, would also be switched off by default for this age group.

In a statement, Kendall said the aim is to prevent a "cliff edge" for young people who gain access to social media at age 16, shielding them from harmful impacts on sleep and concentration. "These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and...