Eight in ten teens ‘will opt out of social media limit’

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 7, 2026

The UK government’s proposed social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, which includes disabling addictive features overnight, faces resistance as surveys show the majority of teens plan to opt out of the voluntary restrictions. This widespread opt-out casts doubt on the policy’s ability to reduce online harms, highlighting the need for additional regulatory measures and education to protect young users effectively.

The UK government’s planned social media curfews for teenagers are facing significant challenges as recent polling shows most young people intend to opt out. The proposals, introduced last month by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, would impose a default curfew preventing 16- and 17-year-olds from accessing social media between midnight and 6 a.m. Additionally, technology companies would be required to disable features deemed addictive, such as autoplay videos, algorithm-driven recommended feeds, and infinite scrolling, during these hours.

However, the curfew would be voluntary, allowing teenagers to deactivate the restrictions permanently if they choose. According to a survey by Censuswide, which polled 300 teens and 16- to 18-year-olds more broadly, approximately 73 to 85 percent of this age group indicated they would opt out of the curfew. Among 17-year-olds surveyed, 79 percent planned to opt out, while 72 percent of 16-year-olds said the same. When including 18-year-olds, the figure rose to 84.6 percent.

The reasons given for opting out varied. Around 43 percent of 17-year-olds and 35 percent of 16-year-olds said they would turn off the curfew to message or call family and friends. Others, including 32 percent of all respondents, cited the desire to watch more online content at night as a motivation. The data also revealed that fewer than one in ten teenagers would stop using social media before 9 p.m. on a typical school night.

The response to the plans has been mixed. Critics, including some politicians, have accused Sir Keir Starmer of rushing the legislation in an attempt to secure a legacy before leaving office. Others argue that the opt-out element significantly limits the effectiveness of the curfew as a tool to reduce online harms.

Leanne Proctor, regulatory lead at the Online Responsibility Network, emphasized that a curfew alone is unlikely to provide adequate protection for young users. She suggested that efforts should focus more on regulating specific design features and implementing stronger age verification measures rather than relying solely on service-level restrictions.

The government has defended the approach, stating that it offers young people the autonomy to navigate social media responsibly as they transition into adulthood. The effectiveness of the measures will depend largely on whether sufficient engagement and education accompany the technical restrictions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.