UK Government Imposes Social Media Curfew for Teens Aged 16-17

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, the UK government announced on Tuesday, July 14, that it will impose a social media "curfew" for 16- and 17-year-olds, barring them from using platforms such as Instagram and Facebook between midnight and 6 a.m. daily. The move follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer's previous announcement banning social media for children under 16. The government also plans to set addictive features like infinite scrolling to disabled by default for users aged 16-17, though users can adjust these settings. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the government must protect teens from addictive features to help them sleep, focus on school, and spend time with family. Additional measures include regulating AI chatbots and requiring users under 18 to take breaks. The UK earlier announced a ban on social media for children under 16 starting in early 2027. Some child rights groups welcomed the measures, while others expressed concern about pushing teens to less safe online environments.