{"id":694086,"date":"2026-07-16T02:58:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T02:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/694086\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T02:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T02:58:33","slug":"whats-the-point-teenagers-give-their-verdict-on-britains-social-media-curfew-social-media-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/694086\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018What\u2019s the point?\u2019 Teenagers give their verdict on Britain\u2019s social media curfew | Social media ban"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds in Britain are to be encouraged to observe a midnight to 6am social media curfew<\/a> but will be able to opt out by changing their account settings.<\/p>\n

From next spring, they will be urged to refrain from using certain apps, with the block being switched on by default. But the curfew will not be mandatory and can be overridden.<\/p>\n

The government also wants \u201caddictive\u201d features such as autoplay and infinite scroll to be disabled in the latest stage of its efforts \u201cto protect the next generation\u201d from online harms.<\/p>\n

We spoke to 16- and 17-year-olds about the social media curfew proposals and what they thought about them. Here are some of their responses.<\/p>\n

\"SocialSocial media curfew for teens: is it pointless? – The Latest\u2018I don\u2019t think there is one single solution\u2019<\/p>\n

Harvey, 16, from the south-east, thinks the opt-out nature of the curfew undermines its effectiveness, but is also worried about potential data breaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting [the curfew] to be opt-out, and having it as an opt-out renders the whole thing meaningless, because if someone is addicted to Instagram<\/a> and there\u2019s a curfew but they can turn it off, they will turn it off.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says he mainly uses Instagram, X, YouTube and Snapchat<\/a>, and, in conversation with his parents, has restrictions on his phone, but acknowledges that not everyone has this opportunity. He spends one or two hours a day on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy phone normally switches off at 10pm each day, but in scenarios where I would like to be on my phone later, say to watch a late England game and wanting to chat to my friends about it or see what other people are saying about it, then I\u2019m able to discuss that with my parents and I\u2019m able to adapt my phone to what I want it to be,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cDifferent circumstances demand different approaches. For example, during my GCSE exam season, there were occasions when I would stay up late revising via YouTube tutorials so my \u2018social media\u2019 use would have been very high, but it was because I was studying.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cHaving to verify your age, which applies to everyone, is one of my biggest issues with it, as that sort of removes this idea of an anonymous internet, which I know is both a good and a bad thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says of the government proposals: \u201cI don\u2019t think these measures are inherently bad, or that they should be just disregarded completely, but it\u2019s the fine details that are important because everyone uses social media differently. Everyone has a different experience. I don\u2019t think there is one single solution to this problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teenagers will be able to opt out by changing their account settings. Photograph: Fiordaliso\/Getty Images\u2018It\u2019s not obligatory, so what\u2019s the point?\u2019<\/p>\n

Archie*, 17, who is in the sixth form studying A-levels and living in Bedford, also questions the opt-out nature of the proposal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn theory, I like the idea, but the fact that it is not obligatory, then it\u2019s almost like, what\u2019s the point?\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m not going to care if Instagram tells me to get off because I can regulate myself, and it is not obligatory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Archie says he already has set restrictions on certain apps he uses \u2013 mainly TikTok<\/a> and Instagram \u2013 which alert him to the time he has spent on social media and suggest taking a break. His usage, he says, amounts to \u201caround three hours a day\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say I use it a lot,\u201d he adds. \u201cI probably use it more than I should. But both Instagram and TikTok have those built-in settings I use.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although largely in favour of restrictions on infinite scrolling, he believes such restrictions should not be confined to children. \u201cI think everyone could benefit from a check on this \u2013 adults too,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Alex, 16, who lives in Scotland, believes the curfew proposals are \u201cridiculous\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Scotland, at 16, you can legally move out, get married, work full time, leave education, and enlist, but can\u2019t be on your phone when you want. I\u2019m sorry, but that\u2019s stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex, who uses TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, is on social media for \u201ca few hours\u201d a day. \u201cI\u2019ll watch TikTok on the bus to college in the morning and during breaks at work,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ll watch it for a bit at night to wind down, but other than that, not much.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says he will \u201copt out\u201d of the curfew. \u201cSurely they know almost everyone is just going to turn the settings off,\u201d he adds. \u201cI do not live at home, I have college and work, and I feel I should be allowed to use social media when I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u2018Growing\u2018Growing up too young\u2019: Londoners praise under-16s social media ban \u2013 video\u2018Under-16s should have a curfew\u2019<\/p>\n

Meliha, who is 16, lives in Coventry, West Midlands, and is studying and working, says she does not support the curfew but would like to see it for under-16s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI disagree with it being for 16- and 17-year-olds as they are old enough to do so many things \u2013 for example, they can live independently, pay taxes and soon people will be able to vote from age 16. It\u2019s silly to have a curfew.\u201d<\/p>\n

She does, however, agree with a curfew for \u201ceveryone under 16\u201d. She says she will opt out of the curfew when it comes into force. \u201cI look at social media late at night, yet it does not affect my sleep; also, some of my study sessions go past midnight,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Meliha says she uses Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram and spends four or five hours a day on social media.<\/p>\n

She is in favour of the curfew not being mandatory. \u201cThe opt-out gives more of a choice rather than forcing a rule,\u201d she says. \u201cIt gives us more independence. Not every teenager uses social media the same way, so a flexible approach could be more appropriate than just one big rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

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