Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Most UK teenagers would switch off proposed social media curfew
The United Kingdom wants to keep teenagers safer online.
The government made a plan to stop 16 and 17 year olds from using social media between midnight and 6 in the morning.
The plan would use a special setting that is switched on by default.
Teenagers could turn the setting off if they wanted to.
A group called the Online Responsibility Network asked 1,000 teenagers what they thought.
Most of them, about 85 out of every 100, said they would turn the setting off.
Many said they wanted to talk to friends and family at night.
Others said they wanted to keep watching videos.
Some experts worry the plan will not be enough by itself to keep kids safe online.
The government says it might change the plan if too many teenagers switch it off.
A Censuswide poll for the Online Responsibility Network found 85 per cent of UK 16-18-year-olds would disable a proposed overnight social media curfew.
The UK government unveiled plans in mid-July for a midnight-to-6am curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, enabled by default account settings that could be turned off.
The curfew would supplement a social media ban on under-16s announced by Keir Starmer's government in June, covering Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Just under half of teenagers said they would opt out to speak to friends and family, while 37 per cent would switch it off to watch online content.
Education minister Bridget Phillipson said the voluntary element of the curfew could be changed if too many teenagers switched off the default settings.
- Who
- UK teenagers aged 16-18, the UK government, education minister Bridget Phillipson and the Online Responsibility Network.
- What
- Plans for an overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, and a poll showing 85 per cent of teenagers would disable it.
- When
- The poll was published Friday (7); the curfew plans were unveiled in mid-July; the under-16 ban was announced in June.
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Why
- To reduce online harms to children, inspired by Australia's under-16 social media ban introduced in December.
Supporters of the curfew
Opponents of the curfew
Switch-off risk
Supporters of the curfew
Default-on settings provide a safeguard for teens, and ministers have said the voluntary element could be changed if too many switch it off.
Opponents of the curfew
85 per cent of teenagers say they would disable the feature, so the curfew would have little practical effect.
Protecting teens online
Supporters of the curfew
The curfew, inspired by Australia's ban, helps reduce online harms among children.
Opponents of the curfew
Leanne Proctor of the Online Responsibility Network says the curfew is unlikely to be enough on its own to prevent online harms.
- Poll result
- 85% of 16-18-year-olds would disable the curfew
- Curfew hours
- Midnight to 6:00 am
- Target age group
- 16 and 17 year olds
- Poll sample
- 1,000 teenagers surveyed by Censuswide
- Platforms covered
- Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook
- Late-night usage
- Over 18% of respondents consume social media until 1:00 am or later
- Policy inspiration
- Australia's under-16 social media ban (introduced in December)
- Possible change
- Voluntary element could be altered if too many teens opt out