Midnight social media curfews and infinite scroll limit for U.K. teens

Key Points:

• The U.K. government has proposed new social media measures for 16- and 17-year-olds, including a default overnight curfew from midnight to 12 a.m. and automatic disabling of addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, with options to opt out.
• These measures, expected to take effect by Spring 2027, follow a trial involving over 300 teens and parents, which showed that an overnight curfew improved sleep, concentration, and mental health while balancing teens' social needs.
• The trial tested various interventions, finding that restricting app use and curfews led to improved mood, reduced stress, and better energy, though teens noted social trade-offs due to restricted interaction with peers.
• The U.K. government is also moving toward a blanket social media ban for under-16s, similar to Australia's legal ban, targeting platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.
• TikTok defended its safety measures, highlighting over 50 preset settings for users under 16, including screen time limits and reminders to take breaks, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to promoting healthy usage habits.