The article explores the mixed reactions of 16- and 17-year-olds in the UK to the government's proposed social media curfew, which would enforce a midnight to 6am block on certain apps.While the policy aims to protect young people from online harms, teenagers argue that the opt-out feature undermines its effectiveness.Harvey, 16, from the south-east, criticizes the curfew's non-mandatory nature, stating it allows addicted users to bypass restrictions.

Archie, 17, questions the point of the measure if it is not obligatory, while Alex, 16, calls the proposal 'ridiculous,' emphasizing the autonomy of older teens.Meliha, 16, supports a curfew for under-16s but opposes it for 16- and 17-year-olds, highlighting the need for flexibility.

The government also plans to disable addictive features like autoplay and infinite scroll, but teenagers stress that individual usage patterns vary, making a one-size-fits-all approach impractical.The debate underscores the tension between parental control, digital autonomy, and the complexities of regulating social media use among adolescents.