British government officials are weighing the possibility of introducing an “app cap” or digital curfew for children to combat potential social media addiction, according to the technology secretary.

Peter Kyle, the government minister responsible for online safety, has expressed his commitment to enhancing protections for children against excessive smartphone usage and fostering a balanced relationship with technology.

The consideration of these measures follows reports that Kyle is exploring further limitations, including potential two-hour curfews for social media applications or restrictions on children’s access to content after 10 PM or during school hours.

During an interview on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg show, when asked about a potential “app cap”, Kyle stated, “I’m looking at things that prevent healthy activity, I’m looking at some of the addictive nature of some of the apps and smartphones.”

“I’m trying to think how we can break some of the addictive behavior and incentivise more of the healthy developmental … and also the good communicative side of online life,” Kyle added.

He acknowledged the strong public sentiment regarding child protection and suggested that existing online safety legislation could be reinforced.

“This year we’ve had illegal content that needs to be taken down, but in July, age-appropriate material must be supplied by platforms, otherwise ther’ll be criminal sanctions against them,” Kyle explained. “And in this time, I’ve been looking very carefully about what we do next.”

“I want to nail down harder on safety, but I want to use that safety for a purpose, which is to understand what is a healthy online life for children in the same way we understand what health means in the physical, offline world, and I’m trying to incentivise the behaviours and stop the barriers towards moving towards that healthy life,” said Kyle.

While Kyle has previously dismissed the idea of a complete social media ban for those under 16 as “not on the cards” currently, he maintains that all options remain open for discussion to safeguard children from online risks.

earlier in the year, Labour MP Josh MacAlister revised his bill, initially proposing to raise the digital consent age from 13 to 16, which would have required parental consent for social media companies to handle data of children under that age. The amended bill now focuses on further research into the matter rather than immediate implementation.

Growing Concerns Over Screen Time

Recent surveys indicate a significant amount of time children spend on internet-enabled devices, raising concerns among parents and educators.

“I’m looking at things that prevent healthy activity,I’m looking at some of the addictive nature of some of the apps and smartphones.” – Peter Kyle

A survey indicated that nearly a quarter of children spend over four hours daily on devices with internet access.

A YouGov poll involving 502 children in England, aged 8 to 15, revealed that 23% spend more than four hours each day using internet-enabled devices such as computers, phones, tablets, or gaming consoles.

The same survey, conducted in March and April, showed that 25% of children spend two to three hours a day on such devices, while 20% spend three to four hours.

Broader Efforts to Address the Issue

In addition to Kyle’s proposals,Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is examining the effects of smartphone bans in certain schools in England,an idea supported by the National Education Union due to increasing worries about social media’s effects on children.

Current guidelines suggest schools should prohibit mobile phone use during lessons, breaks, and lunchtimes, but lack specific enforcement methods.

despite the popularity of smartphones among children, some parents are pushing back. The Smartphone Free Childhood campaign launched a “parent pact” in September, encouraging parents to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of year 9 and to restrict social media use until age 16.