UK minister: Social media curfews could be imposed on children
Social media curfews for children are among a range of plans being considered by the UK government, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has revealed. Kyle told the Daily Telegraph he was "watching very carefully" the introduction of TikTok's 10 pm curfew for users under 16 and examining tools for parents to switch off access at set times. "These are things I am looking at," he said. "I'm not going to act on something that will have a profound impact on every single child in the country without making sure that the evidence supports it."
The proposal came amid concerns about how the "addictive" nature of social media was interrupting sleep schedules and disrupting schooling and family life.
Kyle said he was considering enforcement options under the Online Safety Act following regulator Ofcom's publication of the Children's Code.
He described the new rules as a "sea change" under which parents canexpect their child's social media experience to "look and feel different."
Kyle said he would not be "short of encouraging Ofcom to use its powers to the full" to fine social media companies and imprison offenders.
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