Social media curfews planned for 16- and 17-year-olds in online safety crackdown

Earlier this week [Wednesday, 15 July] the UK Government announced new measures aimed at better protecting 16- and 17-year-olds online. The rules include default overnight social media curfews and restrictions on features designed to encourage prolonged use.

Under the proposals, social media apps will automatically enable a midnight-to-6am curfew for older teenagers. It will also require platforms to switch off features such as autoplay videos and endlessly personalised content feeds by default.

Government cites wellbeing benefits

The measures follow a recent government pilot which involved more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK. Families reported that overnight curfews quickly became part of their routine and helped improve sleep and concentration.

Technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said: 

“Our consultation provided a clear message from parents and teenagers alike – even as young people gain greater independence at 16, they should still be protected from the most addictive online features that can have a harmful impact on their wellbeing.

“These measures will 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. 

“We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive.”

New focus on AI safety and digital literacy

The technology secretary also intends to bring forward a package of measures to help children use AI chatbots safely. Alongside this, the government says it will publish new guidance for children, parents and guardians on how to use AI safely and confidently.

The government also plans to strengthen media literacy skills in schools through new RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) classes. An updated National Curriculum aims to teach children to navigate new types of technology. This includes using artificial intelligence and AI chatbots, identifying mis- and disinformation as well as violent and misogynistic content.

Education leaders welcome additional safeguards

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“We have said all along that a ban on social media for under 16s alone would not be a silver bullet in protecting children from harm and could expose young people to a dangerous cliff edge when they turn 16.

“We said any ban would need to be backed up by other measures and therefore welcome the government’s move to bring forward additional safeguards.

“School leaders tell us how excessive screentime, including scrolling late at night, affects pupils’ concentration in the classroom.

“We therefore support the idea of daily screen time limits and age restrictions on addictive features including infinite scrolling, autoplay and personalised content recommendations, and we had also called for better protections when it comes to AI chatbots.

“Schools already play their part in educating children about the benefits and risks of online spaces, and this action to regulate online spaces will of course be supported in the classroom.

“Updates to the national curriculum to bolster that support are certainly needed, and it is important that guidance for schools and parents is regularly updated given the fast-moving digital landscape.

“The government must ensure its new guardrails and protections are reinforced at home, school, across society, and crucially, by the online platforms themselves.”

The government’s latest proposals represent a significant shift towards regulating not only access to social media, but also the platform features designed to maximise engagement. The effectiveness of the measures will ultimately depend on implementation and enforcement. However, the plans have been broadly welcomed by education leaders who have long argued that protecting young people online requires action from both policymakers and technology companies. Combined with new AI safeguards and strengthened digital literacy education, the package signals a more joined-up approach to helping young people develop healthy and informed online habits.