No Social Media After Midnight? UK Proposes Self-imposed Ban

The United Kingdom has proposed introducing overnight social media restrictions for older teenagers as part of its broader efforts to reduce the harmful effects of excessive screen time on young people. However, the proposed measures will not be mandatory, allowing users to override the settings.

Six-hour curfew planned for older teens

Announced by the Labour government on Wednesday, the plan would introduce a default six-hour social media curfew for users aged 16 and 17, running from midnight until 6 am. Popular platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, would be covered under the proposal.

Autoplay and infinite scrolling to be disabled

The government also plans to deactivate features designed to maximise user engagement, such as autoplay and infinite scrolling, by default for teenagers in this age group. Officials believe the changes could help improve sleep patterns and reduce prolonged online activity.

UK moves ahead with wider social media reforms

The proposal comes weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms from 2027 onwards.

Unlike the complete ban proposed for younger users, the latest measures for older teenagers are intended to encourage healthier online habits while preserving greater flexibility.

Global push to regulate social media use

The UK’s move is part of a wider international trend to limit children’s access to social media. Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for users under 16 in December last year.

The legislation, which took effect on December 10, has drawn global attention as governments around the world explore stricter rules to regulate young people’s use of digital platforms. Australian authorities are already considering stronger measures after reports suggested that many teenagers have managed to circumvent the restrictions.