Britain to Introduce Nighttime Restrictions on Social Media Use for Teens
The British government has announced the introduction of nighttime restrictions on social media use for teenagers aged 16–17. By default, access to popular platforms will be blocked from midnight to 6:00 a.m.
According to the BBC, the new measure will apply to platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. However, users will be able to disable this restriction in their account settings.
In addition to the nighttime restriction, the British government proposes disabling features on teen accounts that may encourage prolonged app use, such as autoplay videos and the endless feed. These measures are expected to help improve sleep, concentration, and academic performance, and to encourage young people to spend more time with family and friends.
UK Technology Minister Liz Kendall stated that the proposed changes are intended to help young people maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.
“We want young people to reap the benefits of technology while having the tools to make the online world a place where they can thrive,” she noted.
At the same time, the initiative has already drawn criticism. Opponents have called the proposed measures insufficient and argued that they will not provide adequate protection for children online.
The new restrictions are a continuation of the government’s policy to strengthen the safety of minors in the online space. In June, British authorities also announced their intention to completely ban children under the age of 16 from using a number of social media platforms.
Source: UNN.
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