New regulations are set to introduce default overnight curfews and automatically disable addictive features for 16 and 17-year-olds using social media applications in the UK. These measures, announced by the government, are intended to further safeguard young people online, building upon previous actions including the ban on social media for under-16s coming into effect next spring.
The upcoming changes will see social media apps automatically implement curfews from midnight to 6am for this age group. Alongside this, features designed to encourage prolonged engagement, such as videos that automatically play consecutively and continuously updated personalised content feeds, will be switched off by default. The government states these steps are crucial to prevent a sudden drop-off in online protections as individuals transition into their later teenage years.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall highlighted that the initiative strikes a balance, offering greater online safeguards while still allowing older teenagers to adjust their own settings if they choose. A government pilot involving over 300 teenagers and parents across the UK reportedly showed that overnight curfews quickly became routine, contributing to improved sleep and concentration among participants.
In addition to social media protections, the Technology Secretary plans to introduce a suite of measures to promote the safe use of AI chatbots among children. These will include mandatory regular breaks for under-18s using chatbots and collaborative efforts with regulators and government bodies to address services providing potentially dangerous, misleading, or unverified mental health advice. Ministers are considering all options, including outright bans for chatbots posing serious risks to children.
To support these new regulations, the government will also release updated guidance for children, parents, and guardians on safe AI use via the Kids Online Safety Hub. Furthermore, media literacy skills will be enhanced in schools through new Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) classes and an updated National Curriculum. These educational initiatives, starting from September, will equip children to navigate emerging technologies like AI, identify misinformation, disinformation, and harmful content such as violent or misogynistic material.