The UK government has proposed a social media curfew for older teenagers alongside the pending ban for under-16s.

According to the BBC, 16 and 17-year-olds could face apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube being unavailable to access by default between midnight and 6am. However, they could choose not to do this by changing their settings.

In June, it was announced that the UK was moving forward with a complete ban on social media for children under 16. The curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds would come into force alongside the ban, which, if passed in Parliament, would begin in spring 2027.

Platforms that will be banned for those under 16 include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. WhatsApp and Signal will not be part of the ban.

The BBC reports that “addictive” features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling will also be disabled, and there will also be measures to help under-18s use AI chatbots safely, including enforced pauses. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said in a statement that, along with the midnight curfew, this measure will be “crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and university and spend more quality time with family and friends, all of which are essential to building a happy, healthy and fulfilling adult life.”

He added: “We want young people to enjoy the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive.”

The proposed ban in the UK follows similar legislation introduced in Australia, Indonesia and France earlier this year.