Young people in Britain may soon encounter a voluntary late-night social media ban along with additional limitations under fresh government proposals.
Those aged 16 and 17 would have preset configurations blocking entry to the majority of social networking sites from midnight until 6am.
This forms part of a package of fresh online safety ideas intended to limit contact with habit-forming digital material and encourage more wholesome technology habits.
According to the proposals, 16 and 17-year-olds would additionally have options like endless scrolling, automatic video reel playback, and algorithmic content suggestions deactivated by default.
The proposals follow a statement in June confirming that under-16s in Britain would be completely barred from various platforms.
Speaking about the plans, Liz Kendall, Technology Secretary, explained that the consultation offered a clear indication from both parents and teenagers that even as young people become more independent at 16, they should still receive protection from the most habit-forming online elements capable of damaging their wellbeing.
These measures will prove essential in enabling young people to obtain necessary rest, concentrate on academic studies, and dedicate more time to loved ones, all of which prove vital for developing a content, healthy and satisfying adult life.
We want young people to benefit from technology while possessing the means to transform the online environment into somewhere they can prosper.
How will the fresh restrictions function?
That prohibition is anticipated to cover platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, though it will not encompass messaging applications like WhatsApp or Signal.
Objections have been raised regarding the fresh measures, given that 16 and 17-year-olds would retain the choice to deactivate the curfew and other default restrictions.
Laura Trott, Conservative shadow education secretary, stated that this represents another muddled policy from Labour.
Either they consider 16 and 17-year-olds should be using social media or they do not, but curfews they can merely switch off will accomplish nothing.
Kendall additionally suggested fresh protections concerning artificial intelligence targeted at those under 18.
These encompass compulsory pauses for young users of AI chatbots alongside limitations on AI systems providing harmful, inaccurate or unverified mental health guidance.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology indicated that chatbots presenting a significant risk to children could face prohibition.
Advice for children and parents regarding safe AI usage will also be released, and media literacy instruction will be enhanced in schools commencing in September.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, commented that these suggested safety measures for 16 and 17-year-olds will partially help enhance young people’s encounters on social media, particularly with autoplay and recommendation functions deactivated by default alongside a curfew.
However, the proposals will not prove sufficient independently.
Without being accompanied by additional, more robust measures they will represent a temporary fix that fails to tackle the addictive design elements propelling elevated screen time and harming children’s wellbeing.
The government states it intends to present its fresh proposed measures to Parliament by the conclusion of 2026, with the intention they come into force alongside its social media prohibition for under-16s the following spring.