UK will implement social media 'curfew' for teenagers aged 1

Beijing, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The British government announced on the 14th that it will impose a "curfew" on the use of social media by teenagers aged 16 to 17. This is the UK government's new social media restriction measure following last month's announcement that it will ban the use of a range of social media applications by people under the age of 16.

The UK government has stated that by default, teenagers aged 16 to 17 are not allowed to use social media from 0:00 to 6:00; Features aimed at enticing users to browse for longer periods of time, including automatic continuous video playback, will also be turned off by default.

The UK government announced in June that it will follow Australia's example and ban the use of a range of social media applications by people under the age of 16.

According to Reuters, the proposed social media "curfew" measures aim to prevent the "cliff like" transition of teenagers obtaining social media usage rights after reaching the age of 16, and provide them with certain protection from the negative impact of late night screen flooding.

The new measures also include regulating the use of artificial intelligence chatbots, requiring users under the age of 18 to take regular breaks when using related platforms.

UK Secretary for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall said in a statement, "Although teenagers gain greater independence after turning 16, they should still be protected from the negative effects of highly addictive and potentially harmful internet functions. These new measures are crucial for helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on their studies, and spend more quality time with family and friends

A study released on the 14th showed that measures to restrict social media use can help improve sleep, enhance focus, and promote physical and mental health. Among them, a nighttime ban is the easiest measure for families to adhere to and can bring the most stable sleep benefits.

The UK government plans to submit the first set of bills on restricting the use of social media to Parliament for review before the end of this year, and the relevant measures are expected to take effect in the spring of 2027. (Qiao Ying)