A senior Tory peer has called for the introduction of curfews on certain social media features for teenagers, arguing that restrictions are necessary to address the growing problem of online addiction among young people. Lord Nash, a former education minister, urged the government and Labour to implement laws requiring technology companies to disable “addictive” functions such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and streaks for users under 18 after 9 p.m.

Lord Nash, who played a key role in prompting the government’s recent social media policy shift, said curfews would help mitigate the harmful effects of late-night phone use on teenagers’ sleep and overall wellbeing. His intervention was pivotal in the wider campaign that led the Prime Minister to announce a ban on social media access for children under 16, modeled on Australia’s approach. The announcement was made last week and also left open the possibility of further restrictions targeting 16- and 17-year-olds.

The peer’s advocacy followed a public consultation that revealed overwhelming parental support for a ban, with about nine in 10 parents reportedly in favor. Lord Nash also secured a legal pathway that would allow the ban and related measures to be introduced before the end of the year without needing new legislation, expediting implementation.

Drawing on his experience as chairman of a multi-academy trust, Lord Nash highlighted how social media’s addictive features have had a clear impact on education. He described schools having to assign multiple staff members to ensure students attend on time amid persistent absenteeism, which he links to sleep deprivation caused by late-night phone use. “Teenagers need a lot of sleep. They can’t operate if they’re getting half as much sleep as they need,” he said, emphasizing the importance of curfews.

Lord Nash expressed confidence in the ability of social media companies to comply with forthcoming regulations, asserting that technological solutions to disable specific features after certain hours already exist. He advocated for a uniform approach across platforms to establish a level playing field, which he said companies would accept “relatively quietly” if enforced fairly.

He also revealed that government plans include rigorous age verification standards that aim to improve upon Australia’s system. Proposed methods include digital IDs, passports, birth certificates, open banking verification, and facial age estimation technology capable of determining age within a margin of 18 months. This is intended to ensure that under-16s are effectively barred from accessing social media services, with Lord Nash calling for a compliance rate of at least 90 to 95 percent.

Privately, Lord Nash said some senior executives at social media firms acknowledge the shifting regulatory environment and understand “the way the wind’s blowing” toward more stringent controls. He contrasted this with Australia’s experience, where six months after implementing a ban, over 60 percent of children reportedly continued to use social media, underscoring the need for robust enforcement.

Lord Nash further advocated for personal discipline regarding technology use, sharing that he himself turns off his phone by 7 p.m. each evening to avoid distraction. He suggested that such practices could serve as a model for managing digital consumption and protecting mental health.

The government has yet to announce detailed regulations following the Prime Minister’s social media ban announcement, but Lord Nash’s intervention signals a push toward more comprehensive restrictions designed to address underlying technological features that drive online addiction among teenagers.