A pioneering UK pilot study has given unprecedented insight into the impact of social media restrictions on teenagers, following a month-long experiment involving 309 families. The research – commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – explored how limiting access to social media affected young people aged 13 to 17, with surprising results.
The study, conducted by Savanta, tested three distinct interventions. One imposed a strict 15-minute daily limit on social media app usage, while another introduced an overnight curfew from 9pm to 7am. The most stringent intervention involved removing social media applications entirely for the duration of the pilot.
Researchers spoke with both teenagers and their parents before and after the trial, gathering comprehensive insights into how these restrictions affected various aspects of their lives – including wellbeing, sleep patterns, offline activities, and social connections.
The findings offer valuable contributions to growing evidence on children's experiences with social media. While DSIT stresses that the report does not reflect government views or policy, it is part of a broader effort to understand the complex relationship between young people and digital platforms – particularly in relation to potential regulatory measures.