The UK government is considering introducing default overnight social media curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds as part of wider measures aimed at reducing younger people’s exposure to addictive online features.
The proposals would introduce default social media restrictions on personalized content feeds and autoplay, and new safeguards around AI chatbots for under-18s.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced the measures as part of a public consultation on strengthening protections for older teenagers online.
If introduced, social media platforms would be required to apply a default curfew between midnight and 6 am for users aged 16 and 17. Teenagers would still be able to disable the restriction themselves, but the government says it wants platforms to make safer settings the default.
The proposals would also require platforms to turn off addictive features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and personalized feeds by default for 16 and 17-year-olds.
The consultation also outlines new rules for AI chatbots used by children and teenagers. Under the proposals, chatbots would need to encourage under-18s to take breaks after extended conversations, while the government also plans to work with regulators to tackle services that provide dangerous, misleading or unverified mental health advice, including considering a ban on chatbots that pose a serious threat to children.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the government wanted to ensure young people could benefit from technology without being exposed to features designed to maximise engagement.
“Our consultation provided a clear message from parents and teenagers alike. Even as young people gain greater independence at 16, they should still be protected from the most addictive online features that can have a harmful impact on their wellbeing,” she said.
The consultation is now open, with the government seeking feedback before deciding whether to introduce the measures into law.
These proposals follow the government’s announcement back in June that it was planning to introduce such measures, although this is the first time they’ve been outlined with any specificity.
