UK Parliament Debates Ban on Youth Social Media Use After 9pm

April 16, 2025: The UK Parliament is debating a proposed restriction prohibiting under-16s from accessing social media platforms after 9 pm as part of a broader initiative to tackle online harms and digital overexposure among children and adolescents. Currently, in committee review, the measure would require platforms to enforce time-based usage limits for verified child accounts.

Supporters of the proposal argue that late-night screen time is contributing to rising levels of sleep deprivation, anxiety, cyberbullying, and mental health issues among teens. Lawmakers backing the policy cite evidence from NHS and Ofcom studies showing a correlation between excessive evening device use and cognitive, emotional, and academic impairment in children.

Under the proposed framework, platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube would be required to deploy age verification systems and implement access restrictions based on the time of day. Enforcement would fall under the remit of the Online Safety Bill, with Ofcom authorized to issue fines to non-compliant platforms.

Critics argue that the ban raises serious enforcement challenges, particularly around age verification technology, data privacy, and circumvention risk. Civil liberties groups have flagged concerns about potential overreach and parental autonomy, questioning whether such restrictions should be decided by legislation or left to families and schools.

Tech industry stakeholders have warned that mandatory curfews may prove ineffective unless paired with broader digital literacy education and platform design reforms. Some platforms have indicated a willingness to experiment with opt-in usage caps and parental control enhancements but oppose hard cutoffs enforced by law.

The government has not confirmed whether the measure will become part of the final bill text, but several MPs have suggested it may be introduced through an amendment during the next reading. If passed, the UK would become one of the first democracies to impose a legally binding digital curfew for minors, setting a precedent that could be followed in other jurisdictions navigating similar concerns.