U.K. Government Proposes Social Media Curfew for Older Teens Alongside Under-16 Ban

Jul 15, 2026 2:00am PT U.K. Government Proposes Social Media Curfew for Older Teens Alongside Under-16 Ban

By Ellise Shafer

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Ellise Shafer

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The U.K. government has proposed a social media curfew for older teenagers alongside its pending ban for those under 16.

According to the BBC, 16 and 17-year-olds could face apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube being unavailable to access by default between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. However, they would be able to opt out of this by changing their settings.

In June, it was announced that the U.K. was moving ahead with a full social media ban for children under 16 years old. The curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds would take effect alongside the ban, which if passed in Parliament, will begin in spring 2027.