UK plans nighttime social media restriction for 16-17 year-olds

The UK government is considering restricting social media use for 16-17 year-olds from midnight to 6 a.m. The new regulation also includes reducing features like infinite scroll and autoplay.

Scraper SystemJuly 16, 2026, 07:35 PM

UK plans nighttime social media restriction for 16-17 year-olds

The UK government announced it plans to introduce a nighttime restriction on social media use for 16-17 year-olds. According to a government statement, a new measure will be implemented in addition to the restrictions previously prepared for children under 16.

Under the regulation, social media use for 16-17 year-olds will be restricted between midnight and 6 a.m. However, the government said the restriction will not be mandatory, and young people can disable it by changing their account settings.

The government also emphasized that features like infinite scroll and autoplay, which keep users on the platform for long periods, will be reduced. The new rules are expected to come into force in the spring of next year.