Social media bans and digital curfews to be trialled on UK teenagers

The UK government is launching a pilot scheme involving 300 teenagers to test social media bans, digital curfews, and app time limits, splitting participants into four groups including a control. The trial runs alongside a public consultation on whether to follow Australia's lead in banning social media for under-16s. While the initiative has broad political support, some experts warn bans could be circumvented or push children to darker parts of the internet, and charities urge tech companies to build safety into their platforms.