The government has announced plans to introduce default overnight curfews on social media apps for 16 and 17 year olds, alongside the automatic switching off of addictive features such as autoplay videos and personalised content feeds, as part of wider efforts to protect young people online.

The curfew will run from midnight to 6am by default, though 16 and 17 year olds will be able to opt out by changing their own account settings.

The measures follow a government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK, with families reporting that overnight curfews quickly became part of their routine and helped improve sleep and concentration.

The government also intends to introduce mandatory breaks for under-18s using AI chatbots, alongside new guidance on safe AI use and potential bans on chatbots that provide dangerous or misleading mental health advice.

From September, RSHE classes will cover critical thinking about AI, misinformation and misogynistic content, with media literacy embedded across the National Curriculum from September 2028.

Regulations will be laid before Parliament by the end of this year, with measures expected to come into force in spring 2027, alongside the government’s under-16 social media ban.