British Teens Plan to Ignore Social Media Curfew, Study Finds

An overwhelming 85% of British teenagers aged 16 to 18 plan to circumvent a new social media curfew, a study by polling firm Censuswide has revealed. The proposed measure, intended to limit young people's online activity, is set to come into effect in early 2027.

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85% of 16-18 year olds surveyed indicated that they intended to make it inactive.

The curfew is designed to prevent 16 and 17-year-olds from accessing social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook between midnight and 6 a.m. This measure complements a previously announced ban on social media use for individuals under 16. The curfew would be implemented through default settings on young people's accounts, but it is easily deactivatable.

According to the study, commissioned by the Online Responsibility Network, nearly half of the surveyed teenagers (48%) stated their intention to disable the curfew to maintain communication with friends and family. An additional 37% wish to continue accessing online content without interruption. Only a mere 2% of the 1,000 adolescents polled reported not using social media or short-form videos on weeknights.

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Nearly half of respondents (around 48%) justify this bypass by the desire to continue discussing with their loved ones and friends, while 37% want to be able to consult content online.

Leanne Proctor, head of regulation at the Online Responsibility Network, commented on the findings, suggesting that a curfew alone is unlikely to be sufficient in mitigating online risks. The study's results indicate a strong desire among teenagers to remain connected and engaged online, challenging the efficacy of the planned restrictions.

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A curfew is unlikely to be sufficient, on its own, to prevent online risks.