The law is expected to be passed by Christmas and come into force in spring 2027.Image: www.imago-images.de
The British government is planning further restrictions on the use of social media for teenagers. For 16 and 17 year olds, nighttime usage restrictions from midnight to 6 a.m. should be activated by default in the corresponding apps.
July 15, 2026, 12:19 p.mJuly 15, 2026, 12:19 p.m
In addition, functions that encourage people to stay on the platforms longer should be deactivated by default, as the government announced.
“These measures will be crucial to ensuring young people get enough sleep, concentrate better on school and training and spend more quality time with family and friends,” said Technology Minister Liz Kendall. Another package of measures is intended to lead to safer handling of AI chatbots.
Ban on younger teenagers from 2027
The restrictions are part of a large legislative package that essentially provides for a social media ban for under-16s. The law is expected to be passed by Christmas and come into force in spring 2027.
According to the announcement, the restrictions for older teenagers are intended to ensure that protection does not end abruptly as soon as young people reach the age of 16. Features that encourage people to stay on the platforms include automatically playing videos or feeds that continuously display personalized content. (sda/dpa)