UK considers social media time limits and curfews for children

The UK government is exploring new online safety measures that could impose time limits and curfews on children's use of social media apps, in response to growing concerns about digital addiction and harmful content.

The UK government is considering plans to introduce stricter online safety rules that would cap children's time on social media apps to two hours per day and impose a 10 p.m. curfew, the BBC has learned. The proposals, first reported by the Sunday People and the Mirror, are part of broader efforts to protect minors from the negative effects of excessive screen time and exposure to harmful online content.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed that the government was reviewing the “addictive nature of some of the apps and smartphones” when questioned on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. He added that he is assessing how to better define a “healthy online life for children.”

The proposals come amid criticism that the government has been too slow in enforcing the Online Safety Act passed in 2023. Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her life after viewing harmful online content, urged the government to act decisively. “Sticking plasters will not do the job,” he warned, calling for stronger and more effective legislation.

Russell, who supports the previous government's Online Safety Act, said meaningful change would require regulating business models that prioritize engagement over child safety. “Every day the government has delayed bringing in tougher online safety laws, we’ve seen more young lives lost,” he said.

Under current plans, platforms will be required to remove illegal content this year. Starting in July, they must also supply age-appropriate content or face criminal sanctions. Kyle said these upcoming obligations mark a key step, but more needs to be done to “nail down harder” on online safety.

While parental control features such as screen time limits and app curfews already exist on platforms like Apple, Google, TikTok, and Instagram, usage of these tools remains low. Former Meta executive Sir Nick Clegg previously noted that parents often find these tools too fragmented and confusing.

England’s Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza echoed the call for stronger action. “Technology is evolving at enormous pace, and this generation of children have never known life without the internet,” she said. “Any amount of time online is too long if the content they see is harmful.”

She called on the government and Ofcom to reinforce both the Online Safety Act and the Children’s Codes to ensure that profit-driven platforms cannot sacrifice child safety.

The debate over online safety continues to intensify, with many campaigners arguing that voluntary controls are no longer sufficient to address the scale and severity of online risks faced by young users.

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