Scottish Experts Warn Social Media Curfew for Teens Needs More Support

London, United Kingdom Jul 16, 2026 ALN: A UK Government social media curfew for older teenagers risks becoming little more than a temporary barrier unless young people are taught how to develop healthier digital habits, a Glasgow sleep expert has warned.

Professor Heather Cleland Woods, professor of psychology education and sleep health at the University of Glasgow, stated that while the restrictions could improve teenagers’ sleep, they must be supported by education and action against addictive platform design.

Under plans announced this week, social media apps will automatically restrict access for 16 and 17-year-olds between midnight and 6am.

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Teenagers will be able to opt out, while features designed to keep users online, including autoplaying videos and endlessly personalized feeds, will be switched off by default.

The first regulations are due to be laid before Parliament by the end of this year, with the measures expected to take effect across the UK, including Scotland, in spring 2027.

These regulations will accompany the UK Government’s planned ban on social media for children under 16, also expected to begin next spring. Ministers assert that the curfew will prevent a sudden “cliff edge” in protection when teenagers turn 16.

Professor Cleland Woods emphasized that restrictions must be part of a broader effort to teach young people how to manage technology independently.

She told The Herald: “I completely understand why the government is feeling the need to act on social media use, particularly among young people. It's an issue that all of us experience.”

However, she argued that policymakers must consider how 16 and 17-year-olds can be supported to use social media safely as they gain greater independence.

“Social media cannot be viewed solely as a source of passive scrolling; teenagers also use it to maintain friendships,” she noted.

Constant access to friends contributes to what sleep researchers describe as a “perfect storm” during adolescence. As teenagers become more independent, parents tend to have less control over their bedtime. Simultaneously, their circadian rhythm shifts, causing them to feel sleepy later at night.

Professor Cleland Woods clarified that this does not mean teenagers need less sleep; rather, they may find it harder to fall asleep as early as younger children or adults.

Research indicates that young people whose parents continue to set bedtimes report better sleep. However, she questioned whether an external restriction would help older teenagers develop independence.

“But again, it comes back to how many 16, 17-year-olds do you know that parents are still putting them to bed?” she asked.

Instead of relying on a block that can be overridden, she suggested that teenagers should be educated on how staying online late affects their mood, concentration, and ability to cope at school, college, or university.

The curfew follows a government-commissioned pilot involving over 300 teenagers and parents, which tested restrictions including a social media blackout between 9pm and 7am. Participants reported improvements in sleep and concentration. However, the qualitative study relied on self-reported experiences and was not designed to prove that the restrictions caused those benefits.

Some young people indicated that the measures disrupted communication with friends or shifted their social media use to immediately before or after the curfew.

Professor Cleland Woods remarked: “Just banning it and taking it away isn't necessarily going to enhance the development of safe and healthy use and social interaction online.”

She also questioned whether greater responsibility should be placed on technology companies whose platforms are designed to keep users scrolling.

“That would be really great to have some interaction with the companies, but that's their business model, right? So that's going to be a challenging conversation,” she stated.

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, welcomed the intent behind the measures but insisted that technology companies must be held accountable for making platforms safer.

“Ultimately, big tech must be forced to change their platforms so they are safe from the start. Rather than putting the responsibility on children to keep themselves safe, tech companies must be held accountable for exposing us all to addictive and harmful content,” she said.

Glasgow highlighted that young people have raised concerns about the need for greater regulation of AI and chatbots, which they perceive as a significant risk to their safety. Both the Scottish and UK Governments must address these concerns.

She also called for “a wider public health approach to reset our digital culture and keep children safe on a par with smoking, seatbelts, and smacking,” including safe and meaningful activities away from screens.

Ellie Craig, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament and MSYP for Glasgow Cathcart, emphasized the importance of involving young people in deciding how the restrictions operate.

She stated: “At our Summer 2026 National Sitting, after consulting nearly 6,000 young people across Scotland, members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) debated proposals to restrict young people's access to social media. Eighty-two percent of MSYPs agreed that decision-makers should meaningfully engage with young people to make online spaces safer and more supportive.”

Craig raised important questions about how the curfew would work in practice and how children's rights have been considered throughout the process. Young people have consistently called for involvement in decisions about their online lives, and the Government should collaborate with them to develop effective, proportionate, evidence-based measures that respect their rights.

She noted that restrictions affecting freedom of expression and access to information must also be considered in light of Scotland’s incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“Making online spaces safer is a shared goal, but it cannot be achieved without listening to the young people these proposals would affect,” she added.

Gail Burden, chief executive of Capella Charity, which operates the Edinburgh-based Sleep Action service, stated: “Sleep is incredibly important for teenagers' health, wellbeing, and learning. We're watching the outcomes of this initiative with interest. At Sleep Action, our focus is on evidence-based education, empowering young people to understand the importance of sleep and make informed decisions that support their wellbeing.”

Professor Cleland Woods noted that one immediate benefit of the policy could be encouraging families and schools to discuss healthy technology use.

“I think one of the most immediate benefits might be starting that conversation,” she said.

She warned that adults must also examine their own behavior and emphasized that young people should help shape measures affecting their online lives.