The UK government is introducing new measures to make the internet a safer place for children.
Some parts of the Online Safety Act 2023 are already in force, while new ideas like limiting social media time to two hours a day and setting “digital curfews” are being carefully developed and expected later this year.
🔒 From July 2025: Age Checks on All Major Platforms
From 26 July 2025, every website or app that can be accessed by children in the UK social networks, video sites, or even adult-content pages—will need to check users’ ages properly.
There will be a few ways to do this:
- AI systems that estimate age from facial scans
- Uploading ID such as a student card or passport
- Payment card verification
The media regulator Ofcom will make sure companies follow the rules.
If big names like TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat don’t comply, they could face hefty fines or even be blocked in the UK.
⏳ What Might Come Next: Screen-Time Limits and Digital Curfews
The government is also working on new rules to help children under 16 manage their time online.
The current proposal includes:
- A two-hour daily limit on each app after that, the app would automatically lock.
- Quiet hours, when social media is switched off completely, during school hours (8 a.m.–3 p.m.) and overnight (10 p.m.–6 a.m.).
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle summed it up beautifully:
“We often talk about giving children a healthy childhood in the real world now it’s time to create the same standard online.”
💬 What Young People Say
In a small survey of 1,000 students in Darlington, the results were eye-opening:
- 4 in 10 teenagers spend more than six hours a day online
- 1 in 5 use social media for eight hours or more
- 3 out of 4 have been contacted by strangers
- More than half have seen violent or sexual content they didn’t want to see
Many said they wish there were firm limits, admitting it’s hard to step away from their screens without a little help.
⚙️ How It Would Work
These limits would be based on verified age and account data, using technology that’s already familiar in parental controls.
The government hopes to make this process automatic, not reliant on parents constantly monitoring devices.Still, some questions remain like how to stop kids using adults’ phones, and how to protect privacy when using age-check tools.
🌿 Towards a Healthier Digital Childhood
The upcoming age-verification rule marks a real shift in how Britain approaches online safety.
If the two-hour limit and digital curfew plans move ahead, they could help young people find a better balance between life on the screen and life outside it.It’s not about banning fun or cutting connection it’s about making space for rest, learning, and real-world experiences.
A gentle nudge, perhaps, toward a calmer and more mindful digital future.
Hung Bui 