Social media ‘curfew’ pilot for teens as North Devon MP warns of ‘addictive’ design

North Devon MP Ian Roome has called for local families to speak out as the government begins testing social media bans, time limits, and digital curfews in hundreds of UK homes.

The six-week pilot, launched by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will see 300 teenagers across the country trial strict new restrictions on app usage. Announced on March 25, the government says the move is designed to “give UK kids their childhood back”  by assessing how these limits impact sleep, schoolwork, and family life.

However, Mr Roome warned that while testing is necessary, the “burden” of child safety should not fall entirely on North Devon parents.

The MP for North Devon told the North Devon Gazette that the issue is a major talking point for his constituents.

“Great swathes of people across North Devon have contacted me about the impact of social media on children - and that is only a glimpse of how strongly families feel," Mr Roome said.

“We’ve known for years about the dangerously addictive nature of social media platforms, and this week's landmark ruling against Meta and YouTube should serve as big-tech’s seatbelt moment."

Mr Roome argued that the root of the problem lies in the boardrooms of tech giants who are making products to keep children engaged in more technology. 

“It’s right the government is testing what works, but this shouldn’t shift the burden solely onto parents. The real issue here is that many tech companies are designing products that keep children hooked at the expense of their wellbeing,”  he added.

Why the UK is consulting

The government stated that while technology can help children learn and build friendships, the current situation “is not working well enough.”

With social media use among children now “almost universal," the national consultation aims to strike a better balance for families.

The Online Safety Act 2023 already protects children from illegal content, but ministers now want to consider broader measures, including:

• Minimum age: Setting a legal minimum age to access social media.
• Addictive design: Restricting features like "infinite scrolling" and "autoplay."
• School phones: Whether guidance on mobile phones in schools should be made law.
• Consent: Potentially raising the digital age of consent.

How North Devon families can take part

The government is seeking views via its official website from parents, carers, and young people, whose voices are described as “central to this process.” Dedicated versions of the consultation have been published specifically for children to ensure their experiences are heard.

Mr Roome is also eager to gather local evidence to present views back to government.

“I’ll be watching this pilot closely and would welcome hearing from families in North Devon so I can take their views back to Government,” he said.

The public has until 26 May 2026 to submit their responses via the government website.