UK ministerial department steering science, innovation and digital infrastructure
The government has introduced default restrictions on social media for 16- and 17-year-olds, blocking access from midnight to 6am and turning off addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay. Teens can override settings. A spring 2027 rollout follows a prior under-16 ban; pilots show improved sleep and concentration but critics call the move piecemeal.
The government has a public consultation closing soon on measures to curb online harms for young people. Campaigners have urged a safety-first approach, with proposals ranging from under-16 bans on risky features to age checks and app curfews. Officials are preparing potential steps to be announced this summer.
Authorities warn that AI-tools can turn ordinary child photos into extreme material. They urge private accounts, audits of old posts, and careful consent with guardianship bodies amid a 14% rise in AI-generated CSAM in 2025.