UK Proposes Social Media Curfews and AI Safeguards for Teens

The Government of the United Kingdom announced a series of digital safety measures on July 15, 2026, targeting teenagers. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall unveiled plans for a default overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, restricting access to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube between midnight and 6 a.m. The proposal also requires platforms to disable addictive features, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds, by default for this age group. These measures serve as a transition for teens moving out of a total social media ban for children under 16, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced is set to take effect in spring 2027.

Additional safeguards include mandatory breaks for under-18s using AI chatbots and potential bans on AI services providing dangerous, unverified mental health advice. While the government cited a pilot study suggesting 90% of teenagers would not disable these settings, officials ruled out restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for 16 and 17-year-olds, citing concerns over free speech and the necessity of VPNs for whistleblowers and minority groups.

The plan faced sharp criticism from opposition politicians and child safety advocates. Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott dismissed the measures as a "dog’s dinner," arguing that the ability for teenagers to manually opt out renders the curfews ineffective. Similarly, the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation characterized the announcements as "piecemeal" or a "sticking plaster" that fails to provide a comprehensive strategy against addictive design. Legal experts from RPC warned that a blanket ban for under-16s may face challenges regarding privacy and Convention rights.