OVERNIGHT curfews on social media could be imposed on youngsters as part of a major crackdown.
Ministers want to act as millions of parents have concerns over children’s sleep, concentration levels and mental health.
Adults feel they are fighting a losing battle against tech firms.
But new measures could also include curbs to children’s access to AI chatbots and gaming sites as the Government launches a consultation about new online safety plans.
And tech firms could be pressured to switch off addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.
Chris Sherwood, boss of the NSPCC, said the Government was “right that the status quo is not working”.
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He added: “Ultimately, this process can only be judged if it leads to safer, healthier, age-appropriate online lives for children.
“This must include forcing tech companies to keep under-13s off social media, stopping platforms using design tricks and blocking harmful content at the source.”
Pilot schemes will be run with families and teenagers to test the measures.
The Whitehall consultation, which opens today, wants views on whether there should be an Australia-style ban on under-16s using social media.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “We know parents are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone and what they are seeing online.
“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation.”
It will close at the end of May with a Government response expected in summer.
- FEWER than one in six young people — 15 per cent — say a social media ban would make them feel safer online, a new survey found.
