Government accelerates social media crackdown with midnight curfews
Teenagers will face a default midnight social media curfew and stripped-back social media feeds under the government’s latest crackdown on addictive online features – but they will be able to switch the restrictions off themselves.
Tech secretary Liz Kendall has announced social media platforms will disable auto-play and infinite scroll-style recommendations and restrict overnight access by default for 16 and 17-year-olds, extending protections beyond the government’s planned ban on under-16s.
Ministers said they are looking to avoid what they describe as a “cliff edge” when children turn 16 and regain access to social media services.
However, the overnight curfew will not be mandatory. Instead, it will be enabled by default between midnight and 6am before allowing older teenagers to opt out.
The announcement follows a government-backed trial involving more than 300 families which found teenagers who spent less time on social media reported better sleep, improved concentration and lower stress levels.
“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,” Kendall said.
Alongside the social media changes, ministers will also explore safeguards for AI chatbots, including mandatory breaks for under-18s and restrictions on services offering dangerous or unverified mental health advice. The government said it would consider banning chatbots that pose a serious risk to children.
The latest package builds on Labour’s planned social media ban for under-16s under the Online Safety Act, due to come into force from spring next year, which will require platforms to use robust age assurance technology rather than relying on self-declared ages.
Industry warns of practical hurdles
Mafruhdha Miah, senior associate at RPC law firm, said the government appeared to be pressing ahead before existing protections under the Online Safety Act had been fully assessed.
“The details on what the ban will cover and how it will be implemented are scant,” she said. “It appears that the ban has been announced before the government has even assessed whether the current measures are properly protecting children.”
She also warned that requiring platforms to verify users’ ages could create significant privacy concerns for adults while placing a substantial compliance burden on tech companies.
Andy Lulham, chief operating officer at age verification company Verifymy, told City PM: “Not every young person has a passport or national identity document. Modern methods such as email-based checks and facial age estimation need to be included so users have alternatives where one route is unavailable or inconclusive.”
Research from GWI consumer research platform found public support for tougher action on social media access remains high. Some 61 per cent of UK parents back age verification for social media and 71 per cent cited cyberbullying as one of their biggest concerns, the research found.
Ofcom, Meta and X have been approached for comment.