{"text":[[{"start":7,"text":"British teenagers will face a midnight curfew on the use of social media platforms such as Snap, YouTube and TikTok as ministers seek to encourage digital downtime among under-18s."}],[{"start":18.75,"text":"A broader switch-off will be extended to addictive features such as autoplay videos, recommender feeds and infinite scrolling that are designed to keep teenagers hooked on social media. "}],[{"start":29.15,"text":"Mandatory time limits on the use of AI, as well as restrictions on chatbots that offer mental health advice for under-18s, will also be introduced under new rules to be unveiled on Wednesday. However, teenagers will still be able to change their own settings."}],[{"start":44.95,"text":"Last month, the government unveiled a ban on under-16s using social media platforms in one of the last major policy moves by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. His successor Andy Burnham will be anointed Labour leader on Friday and enter 10 Downing Street on July 20."}],[{"start":62.25,"text":"The curfew plan reflects concern that the ban for younger teenagers will lead to a sudden exposure to the full extent of social media as young people turn 16, with ministers keen to push for “healthy boundaries with technology”. "}],[{"start":76,"text":"Ministers have clashed with Big Tech platforms over the plans to crack down on social media use, with executives at the US groups arguing that young people will also be restricted from valuable resources for learning and communication with friends and family. "}],[{"start":92.3,"text":"However, ministers have still not decided an approach to regulating virtual private networks to stop teenagers using them, according to a person close to the plans. VPNs disguise a phone’s IP address, enabling users to access sites that are banned in their home country. "}],[{"start":107.55,"text":"The first set of regulations on the social media restrictions will be submitted to parliament by the end of this year, with the ban on social media services for under-16s expected to be introduced next spring."}],[{"start":120.05,"text":"A government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK showed that overnight curfews helped improve sleep and concentration."}],[{"start":129.15,"text":"Technology secretary Liz Kendall said: “Our consultation provided a clear message from parents and teenagers alike — even as young people gain greater independence at 16, they should still be protected from the most addictive online features that can have a harmful impact on their wellbeing.”"}],[{"start":145.75,"text":"Media literacy skills will also be bolstered in schools, through classes and an updated school curriculum that will teach children to navigate new types of technology, including AI and chatbots, and identify misinformation, disinformation and violent or misogynistic content."}],[{"start":170.75,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784084088_9358.mp3"}