A block on some social media apps from midnight until 6am is being suggested by the Labour Government.
The new announcement is seen as a further step in protecting children from the most addictive features on social media platforms that can harm well being and mental health.
For the moment, the curfew is only something that 16 and 17 year olds are being encouraged to follow, with no enforcement put in place.
However, from next spring, a midnight to 6am block will be a default setting, but this can still be manually overridden.
Curfewed apps will include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Is this part of something bigger?
This is an extension of the under-16 social media ban that is planned to come into force in spring 2027.
What's being said?
An internet safety campaign group, The Molly Rose Foundation, said that this is “yet another piecemeal set of announcements, not the comprehensive plan for children’s safety that’s required.”
The delicate balance is hard to reach between protecting children, helping guard their sleep, academic focus and face-to-face relationships. All whilst stopping children from feeling isolated and disconnected, or losing their freedom of speech without social media platforms.
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