A pioneering research project in Bradford has provided early insights into the social media habits of teenagers, just as the UK government prepares to introduce a ban on major platforms for under-16s. The 'IRL' (In Real Life) trial, conducted by researchers at Born In Bradford, is believed to be the first major scientific study to investigate the impact of social media on young people's mental health.
The initial phase of the study involved 200 teenagers from local schools, with thousands more expected to participate from autumn onwards. Participants, aged between 12 and 15, were asked to limit their daily social media use and avoid it between 9pm and 7am. Year 10 pupils (14-15 years old) were given a one-hour daily limit, while Year 9 pupils (13-14 years old) had a two-hour cap. Year 8 pupils (12-13 years old) continued with their normal usage, acting as a control group.
A key finding from the trial, managed by Dr John Pickavance, revealed a significant difference between self-reported social media use and actual screen time. While teenagers reported using social media for around four hours a day in surveys, monitoring software installed on their phones showed an average daily usage of five-and-a-half hours. This discrepancy highlights the challenge in accurately assessing digital habits.
Despite the strict limits, around half of the participants who had the monitoring app installed for the full duration managed to reduce their social media consumption. Interestingly, even those who didn't fully adhere to the set targets still showed a reduction in their overall usage. However, the initial one-hour cap for some age groups proved challenging, and this specific restriction will be removed for the upcoming main trial to encourage higher participation rates.
The study's findings are particularly pertinent given the Prime Minister's announcement in June of a planned ban on social media for under-16s, expected to be implemented by spring 2027. This policy aims to address concerns about the impact of platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook on young people's well-being. The Bradford trial, with its focus on real-world behaviour and mental health outcomes, could offer valuable data to inform future policy and support strategies for young people navigating the digital landscape.