London: The UK government is actively considering the introduction of new screen time limits for children to reduce ‘compulsive’ social media use and protect young people’s mental health.
The proposal includes restricting the use of apps by time of day and duration, such as limiting access to two hours per app per day and restricting usage during school hours or late at night.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed these potential restrictions during a visit to Darlington, noting that the government will launch a consultation this autumn to determine the most effective way to implement these controls.
The rules are being developed in partnership with technology companies and aim to provide parents with stronger tools to manage their children’s online activity.
Kyle stressed the importance of helping children enjoy a ‘healthy online childhood’ and acknowledged that many parents currently feel ‘disempowered’ in managing excessive screen time.
The Technology Secretary stated that, “We want to be the first country in the world to introduce comprehensive screen time guidance and support for parents – so they’re not alone in navigating the online world their children live in.”
The announcement comes as part of the UK’s broader Online Safety Act enforcement strategy, aimed at minimizing children’s exposure to harmful or inappropriate content and reducing unsolicited contact from strangers.
During the visit, Kyle met with local schoolchildren and young people who shared their concerns about the amount of time they spend online. One teenage girl admitted to spending six to eight hours per day on social media, much of it during school hours or late at night. Another said she regularly received unsolicited messages from strangers.
The proposal also aims to address the lack of parental control tools and the absence of default safety settings on many platforms. Peter Kyle noted that young people are often drawn into compulsive scrolling and gaming due to platform design, which makes it difficult for them to log off. The screen time rules includes age verification technologies powered by AI to ensure children aren’t bypassing controls by entering false birth dates.
While parents can currently set some restrictions via devices and apps, Kyle noted that not all platforms provide built-in tools to effectively monitor or limit children’s access. The proposed national guidance and regulatory framework would fill this gap.
The government intends to consult both parents and tech companies to design solutions that balance children’s freedom to learn and socialize online with protection from harm. The Technology Secretary highlighted the importance of striking the right balance between online opportunities and safety, especially for vulnerable children.
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