Teens React: Social Media Curfew Sparks Debate at Latitude Festival

Teenagers across the UK are reacting to a new government plan that could limit their access to social media during late-night hours. At the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, several teens shared their opinions about the proposed curfew. Caitlin, 14, Abi, 17, and Libby, 13, all believe the ban will not work as intended. Abi, who uses social media daily to connect with friends and watch videos, was initially relieved that the rule would not apply to her. However, now that older teens are included in the curfew, she feels frustrated. Abi says the curfew feels 'pointless' and doubts it will be respected. She worries about her younger sister and cousin using social media, but feels she is mature enough to make her own decisions. Abi explains, 'I know we're not adults yet, but it feels like we are being treated the same as a 12-year-old. '

The new rule would make apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube unavailable by default to 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 6am. Teens can opt out by changing their account settings. The government also wants to disable features like auto-play and infinite scroll, hoping this will help teenagers focus better, improve their sleep, and spend more time with family. Rafi, a 15-year-old from Suffolk, will be 16 when the curfew starts. She says she is not bothered by the rule because she is usually asleep during those hours, especially on school nights. Rafi thinks the curfew would be more effective if it started earlier in the evening. She also believes that app companies should take more responsibility for setting rules and curfews, rather than leaving it to the government.

Pablo, 15, traveled from London to attend the festival. He does not use social media heavily but has Snapchat for communication. Pablo believes social media can be useful for learning and entertainment, so he does not support a complete ban. He says, 'I think there should be restrictions, but not as harsh. ' A study involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK showed that social media usage dropped overnight when the curfew was tested. The government says these measures will help young people get the sleep they need, focus on school, and spend more quality time with family and friends. Daisy Greenwell, a mother of three, started the campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood in 2024. She describes the planned curfew as a 'really good thing' and believes it will help change social norms about what is healthy for children. Daisy says, 'It lets parents know that kids shouldn't be on these things overnight, and as we know a lot of kids want to spend less time on their phones as well. '

However, Daisy admits that teens can easily switch off the curfew if they want, especially those with problematic smartphone use. She believes the root of the problem is the way social media companies design their apps to keep people engaged. Daisy hopes that future changes will make apps healthier for both children and adults. Some experts think the curfew goes too far. Dr Sarah Turner, a researcher at UCL's Knowledge Lab, says platforms like YouTube can be a lifeline for some teenagers, especially those who do not have places to go or communities to join. She believes more research is needed before making big changes. Dr Turner says, 'They use messaging within these platforms to connect with each other and it's the way they access news. ' She encourages parents to have better discussions with their children about social media. Lorna Woods, a professor of internet law, thinks the curfew is mainly to appease parents and campaign groups. She welcomes the move but hopes apps will be made safer in the future. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of NSPCC, says the proposals are a good first step but not enough on their own. He wants stronger measures to address addictive design features and protect children from harm caused by AI and messaging services.