STORY
The Government has announced new measures aimed at protecting 16 and 17-year-olds from addictive social media features and overnight use. Default curfews from midnight to 6am are expected to be introduced on social media apps as part of a wider online safety package.
Ministers said the measures followed a Government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents. Families involved in the pilot reported that overnight curfews helped improve sleep and concentration, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The proposals will add to the wider debate about the responsibilities of technology companies and the role of Government in regulating children’s online lives. Social media firms are likely to face pressure to show that new safeguards are practical, effective and not easily bypassed.