Ministers consider social media curfew to keep children safe online

"The path to a good life is a great childhood, one full of love, learning and play. That applies just as much to the online world as it does to the real one. We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having."

"Ministers are considering introducing overnight curfews on children's use of social media as part of new measures to keep young people safe online. The government will also look at restricting children's access to AI chatbots and whether there should be a minimum age for social media."

The UK government is developing new measures to protect young people online, including potential overnight curfews on social media use, age restrictions for social media access, and limitations on children's access to AI chatbots. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is launching a consultation with parents, guardians, and young people across the UK to gather views on these proposals. The government is exploring an Australia-style ban on children using social media and determining appropriate age thresholds. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasizes that childhood quality matters in both physical and digital environments, acknowledging parental concerns about screen time, phone access, and online content exposure.

Read at www.independent.co.uk