A government has extended its social media restrictions to include 16- and 17-year-olds through an overnight curfew on certain apps. Under the plan, social media platforms would be automatically blocked between midnight and 6am for this age group as part of broader efforts to reduce online harms.
The curfew will not be mandatory, with teenagers able to opt out of the restrictions if they choose. This marks an extension of the government's existing social media ban for under-16s, suggesting a tiered approach to limiting young people's access to these platforms.
The initiative aims to address concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young people, though questions remain about its practical effectiveness given the voluntary nature of the measure for older teenagers.
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