UK Plans Default Midnight Social Media Curfew for 16- and 17-Year-Olds, Eyes AI Chatbot Safeguards

The government says older teenagers will be able to change the settings, while it is also considering mandatory breaks for under-18s using AI chatbots and restrictions on mental-health advice tools.

The UK government has announced plans to switch on a default social media curfew from midnight to 6am for 16- and 17-year-olds, while automatically turning off features designed to keep users scrolling.

The measures would apply to features such as videos that automatically play one after another and feeds that continually serve personalised content. Teenagers would retain the ability to change the default settings themselves.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the policy is intended to prevent a sharp reduction in protections when users turn 16. The government has also referred to a separate ban on social media services for under-16s, scheduled to begin in spring next year.

The policy follows a government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK. The government said participating families reported that overnight curfews became part of their routines and helped with sleep and concentration.

Kendall said parents and teenagers had given a clear message that young people should remain protected from harmful and addictive features as they gain more independence at 16. The government said the measures are intended to support sleep, school and college focus, and time away from online services.

The government is also considering further protections for children using AI services, including mandatory breaks for under-18s and restrictions on chatbots that offer mental-health advice.