UK Mulls Two-Hour Social Media Limit for Kids

The UK government is considering a two-hour daily limit per platform on social media use for children, specifically targeting apps such as TikTok and Snapchat, to address concerns about compulsive phone use and negative impacts on youth wellbeing. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated that additional measures, including night-time or school-time curfews, are under discussion, with a formal announcement expected in the autumn. The proposals come after consultations with tech industry insiders and youth focus groups. The government aims to shift responsibility for enforcement from parents to platforms, potentially using incentives or regulations to block access after limits are reached. These measures are being developed alongside recent laws restricting access to harmful content for under-18s. The specific age range that would be affected by the new limits has yet to be clarified.