Published: Jul 15, 2026, 18:42 IST | Updated: Jul 15, 2026, 18:42 IST
Starting spring 2027, UK teens aged 16 and 17 will find their favourite apps switched off by default between midnight and 6am — with infinite scrolling and autoplay disabled too. The catch? They can simply flip the setting back on themselves. Critics call it toothless; the government points to a 300-teen trial that showed real gains in sleep and focus. It follows last month's full social media ban for under-16s, making the UK just the second country after Australia to go this far.