A new plan would set a default six-hour social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds in Britain. Autoplay features would also be disabled by default. Teens could override these settings if they choose.
Media and publishing professionals tracking digital policy should note the British government's latest move to address online safety for teenagers. Officials have announced plans for a voluntary overnight social media curfew targeting users aged 16 and 17, aiming to reduce exposure to online harm and limit excessive screen time.
Under the proposal, social media platforms would set a default restriction preventing access for six hours starting at midnight for this age group. However, teens would retain the ability to override the default setting if they wish to continue using the platforms during those hours.
The government also intends to require that autoplay features-such as videos that automatically play one after another-be switched off by default for older teenagers. This measure is designed to curb features that encourage prolonged scrolling and engagement.
These planned changes follow the recent announcement of a forthcoming ban on social media access for users under 16, expected to take effect next spring. The ban is set to apply to major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but will not cover messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal.
