UK Plans Nighttime Social Media Curfew and Addictive Feature Restrictions for Teens from 2027

The United Kingdom is preparing to introduce strict nighttime restrictions on social media for teenagers as part of a broader effort to protect young users from excessive screen time and harmful online content.

Starting in spring 2027, users aged 16-17 will be blocked from accessing social networks between midnight and 6 a.m.. This curfew will apply to home internet connections through mandatory content filtering systems.

Beyond the time restriction, platforms will be required to disable the most engaging features by default for this age group. These include infinite personalized feeds, automatic video playback, Reels, and similar short-form video content on TikTok and other services.

The nighttime and feature restrictions are intended to serve as a gradual transition before a full ban on social media for children under 16, which is also scheduled to begin in spring 2027. Officials describe the approach as a phased model: complete prohibition for younger children, followed by limited access, and eventual unrestricted use only for adults.

The government references an experiment involving 300 participants that showed nighttime restrictions quickly became habitual and led to measurable improvements in sleep quality and concentration levels.

Additional measures target AI chatbots. Services aimed at minors will be required to implement mandatory breaks, while platforms distributing dangerous or unverified mental health advice may face outright prohibition.

Schools will also update their curricula to include training on safe interaction with artificial intelligence, recognition of deepfakes, disinformation, and violent or misogynistic content as part of expanded digital literacy programs.