Charlie Jones

The UK government plans to make Instagram, TikTok and YouTube unavailable by default to 16- and 17-year-olds between midnight and 06:00, while also targeting features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. Teenagers interviewed at Latitude Festival had mixed views: some saw the curfew as pointless or too harsh, while others supported restrictions but believed technology companies should bear more responsibility. Campaigners welcomed the proposal as a useful signal for healthier phone habits, but researchers warned that social media can provide vital communication, news and community access for some young people. Critics and child-safety groups also argued that the policy should cover gaming, messaging and AI-related harms, and address addictive design more fundamentally.

The UK government plans to make Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and similar platforms unavailable by default to 16- and 17-year-olds between midnight and 06:00, while also targeting features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. Teenagers at Latitude Festival have mixed views: some see the curfew as pointless or too restrictive, while others support limits but believe platforms should take greater responsibility. Supporters, including Smartphone Free Childhood and the NSPCC, say the policy could improve sleep, focus and family life but is only a first step. Researchers and legal experts warn that it could disadvantage teenagers who rely on online communities and messaging, and argue that safer-by-design requirements and broader action on gaming, AI and messaging services are needed.