Hundreds of UK teenagers to pilot social media bans and restrictions

"Hundreds of teenagers will be enlisted to trial social media bans in the coming months with overnight digital curfews and daily screen time limits also tested as part of Keir Starmer's plan to crack down on the negative effects of smartphone use. The trials will be part of a three-month consultation launched this week that could lead to an outright ban on social media for under-16s similar to that introduced in Australia."

"The consultation will consider whether there should be a minimum age to use social media, and if so, what that age should be; whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay that keep children hooked late into the night; whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better and at what age they should apply; and how age verification enforcement should be strengthened."

"The first trial will involve about 150 children aged 13 to 15 and will test their response to being denied social media altogether, being limited to one hour a day and overnight screen curfews. Their sleep, moods and physical activity will be assessed."

The UK government is conducting a three-month consultation on restricting social media use among minors, potentially leading to an outright ban for under-16s similar to Australia's approach. Hundreds of teenagers will participate in trials testing complete social media bans, one-hour daily limits, and overnight curfews, with assessments of their sleep, mood, and physical activity. The consultation examines minimum age requirements, removal of addictive features like infinite scrolling, mandatory overnight curfews, age verification enforcement, AI chatbot restrictions, and gaming platform effects. However, child safety groups including the NSPCC and 5Rights Foundation have expressed concerns that blanket bans could drive teenagers toward unregulated internet spaces rather than addressing platform accountability.

Read at www.theguardian.com