United KingdomA recent poll commissioned by the Online Responsibility Network found that 84.6% of teenagers aged 16-18 plan to opt out of the UK government's proposed voluntary social media curfews. The curfews, introduced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in his final months in office, would restrict access to social media platforms between midnight and 6am by default. However, the poll revealed that most teenagers intend to disable these restrictions, citing reasons such as staying connected with friends and family or accessing online content. Leanne Proctor of the Online Responsibility Network emphasized that curfews alone are insufficient to address online harms and called for more effective design-level solutions. Meanwhile, a Government spokesperson defended the policy, noting that 64% of young people aged 16-21 support nighttime app restrictions and that trial data showed improved sleep and concentration. Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson criticized the approach, arguing that the government is addressing symptoms rather than root causes of social media addiction.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both government arguments and criticism from opposition figures, with balanced reporting on the policy's intent, public opinion, and expert opinions. While the government supports the curfews as a protective measure, critics argue it fails to address deeper issues like addictive
