Story perspectives

UK Enforces Overnight Social-Media Curfew for Teens

7/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

UK government will impose an overnight curfew on social-media apps for 16- and 17-year-olds, blocking access from midnight to 06:00.
Teenagers can avoid the curfew by changing the default settings on their social-media accounts.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the curfew will improve sleep, concentration and family time for young people.
Child-safety charities warned the curfew is piecemeal and could block vulnerable teens from getting help at night.

History

Historical Context

The UK’s push to regulate harmful digital content began with the Online Harms White Paper released in April 2019, which set out a statutory duty of care for internet firms. In February 2020 the government assigned Ofcom a greater enforcement role, and in July 2022 it received powers to fine firms up to £18 million or 10 % of turnover for child-sexual-abuse content.

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Story summary

UK government will impose an overnight curfew on social-media apps for 16- and 17-year-olds, blocking access from midnight to 06:00.
Teenagers can avoid the curfew by changing the default settings on their social-media accounts.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the curfew will improve sleep, concentration and family time for young people.
Child-safety charities warned the curfew is piecemeal and could block vulnerable teens from getting help at night.

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