Hundreds of UK teenagers to pilot social media bans and restrictions

The UK government is launching a three-month consultation, including trials involving hundreds of teenagers, to address the negative impacts of social media and smartphone use on children. These trials will test social media bans, screen time limits, and overnight curfews on approximately 150 children aged 13-15, with assessments of their sleep, mood, and physical activity. The consultation will explore a minimum age for social media use, restrictions on addictive features, mandatory curfews, and stricter age verification. It will also consider AI chatbots and gaming platforms. While some groups support a ban for under-16s, others like the NSPCC warn against driving children to unregulated online spaces, emphasizing the need for social media companies to be held accountable. The government aims to determine the best course of action to protect children online.

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