UK Proposes Overnight Social Media Curfew for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

London:** The UK government has proposed introducing an overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, restricting access to social media platforms between **midnight and 6:00 a.m.**

Under the proposal, social media apps would automatically disable access during these hours. However, users would be able to override the restriction by changing their account settings.

The government is also seeking to disable features such as **autoplay** and **infinite scrolling** by default, aiming to improve young people’s sleep, academic performance, and family life.

Child safety advocates and technology experts have expressed concerns that the measures may have limited effectiveness because users can easily turn off the restrictions.

The proposal follows last month’s announcement by UK Prime Minister **Keir Starmer**, who said the government plans to ban social media access for children under the age of **16**, arguing that a complete restriction is the most effective way to protect younger users.