The UK government has revealed detailed plans to restrict social media access for minors, including a complete ban for those under 16 and overnight curfews for 16- and 17-year-olds. These measures are set to take effect in Spring 2027.
Under the new regulations, individuals under the age of 16 will be blocked from accessing social media platforms entirely. For those aged 16 and 17, access will be switched off nightly between midnight and 6 a.m. Additionally, features designed to increase user engagement, such as auto-playing videos and continuously updating personalized feeds, will be disabled by default for this age group.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the consultation process revealed a clear message from parents and teenagers, emphasizing the need to protect young people from addictive online features that can negatively impact their well-being. She highlighted that these measures aim to help young people secure adequate sleep, improve focus on education, and spend more quality time with family and friends, contributing to a healthier adult life.
The government's announcement follows a pilot program involving 300 teenagers and their parents across the UK. Participating families reported that the overnight curfews quickly became routine and contributed to better sleep and concentration.
Beyond social media, the government is also introducing new rules concerning AI chatbots. Under-18s will be encouraged to take regular breaks from using these bots to foster healthier online habits. Furthermore, ministers are collaborating with regulators to address services that offer dangerous, misleading, or unverified mental health advice, with the potential to ban chatbots that pose a serious threat to children.
Details regarding the precise implementation of these measures are still unclear. The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology has been contacted for clarification.
Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer supported a full ban for under-16s following a government consultation. However, Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly Russell died in 2017 after viewing self-harm and suicide content online, expressed concerns that the process for introducing online safety restrictions might be rushed. Russell had previously warned against accelerating these restrictions for political reasons.