UK Government plans social media curfew for older teenagers 

The UK Government will introduce default overnight curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds as part of the recently launched ban on social media services for under-16s from spring next year.  

The curfew will be switched on from midnight to 6am and is intended to ensure that there is “no cliff edge in protections” as teenagers gain access to social media due to age.  

Videos that automatically play one after another and feeds that continually serve up personalised content will also be switched off by default for 16 and 17-year-olds as the government deems these a contributing factor that can keep users on social media platforms for long periods of time.  

The announcement comes after a government-led consultation focused on the effectiveness of curfews that involved over 300 teenagers and parents across the UK.  

Announcing the policy, 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.” 

The curfew forms part of the package of regulations that Keir Starmer announced in June, when the prime minister outlined plans to restrict access to specific platforms for under-16s. The plan will block access to Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X while also including restrictions on gaming services, live-streaming platforms, and stranger communication. 

“Social media is making children unhappy,” Starmer said at the launch. “It's making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse them, and it could even be harming their mental health, exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that is what grabs the attention. It is designed to be addictive.” 

In a study published yesterday by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, researchers found that over half of children have seen or interacted with content not meant for them in the last three months, despite the implementation of the Online Safety Act’s child safety duties in July 2025.  

The Online Safety Act mandates that services, like social media apps, that could expose children to inappropriate content or unwanted attention must use “highly effective” age verification measures to stop children from seeing the most harmful types of content online. Despite this, the research shows that nearly two in five of all children surveyed have successfully circumvented an age check online.