Why UK Is Testing Social Media Limits For Teens

The UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology has launched a pilot program to test social media restrictions for teenagers after lawmakers rejected a nationwide ban for under-16s.

The six-week trial will involve 300 teens and test measures such as app bans, daily time limits, and nighttime curfews.

One group will face a one-hour cap on apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, while another will have restricted access overnight. A control group will have no limits.

Social media bans and digital curfews to be trialled on UK teenagers https://t.co/pxytUUsfAJ

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 25, 2026

Officials say the effort is part of a broader consultation on digital wellbeing, which has already drawn tens of thousands of responses.

The move comes amid growing global pressure to regulate social media use among minors. Recent court rulings and ongoing lawsuits against Meta Platforms have intensified scrutiny over online safety and the impact of platforms on young users.

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