UK to Trial Social Media Bans and Digital Curfews for Teenagers

The UK government is set to trial social media bans, digital curfews, and app time limits in the homes of hundreds of teenagers. The study will involve 300 teens whose social media apps will either be completely disabled, blocked overnight, or capped at one hour per day. Some participants will experience no changes at all, allowing researchers to compare outcomes.
The trial runs alongside a government consultation on whether the UK should follow Australia in making it illegal for under-16s to access many social media platforms. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the pilot aims to “test different options in the real world” and gather evidence from families’ experiences. Children and parents involved will be interviewed before and after the trial to assess its impact.
The consultation will remain open until 26 May. The potential ban has broad political support, with countries such as France, Spain, and Indonesia also considering similar measures. Campaigners and children’s charities have voiced support, while some experts caution that restrictions can be bypassed or push children to less safe areas of the internet.
NSPCC’s associate head of child safety online policy, Rani Govender, welcomed the government’s efforts but emphasized that tech companies must also ensure platforms are safe, blocking harmful or illegal content and limiting services to age-appropriate users.
Meanwhile, the Molly Rose Foundation described the consultation as “entirely right,” praising evidence-based approaches over rushing into bans. Its chief executive, Andy Burrows, said the pilot will provide insights into the practicality and feasibility of future interventions.
The trial represents a significant step in exploring how to protect children online while balancing access to digital platforms.