Hundreds of UK teenagers to trial six-week social media curbs for major study
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The UK government is launching a pilot program to study the impact of social media restrictions on teenagers. Hundreds of teens across the UK will participate in a six-week trial involving social media bans, digital curfews, and time limits on popular apps like Instagram and TikTok. This pilot runs alongside a government consultation and a larger independent study involving 4,000 students in Bradford, which will examine the effects of reduced social media use on anxiety, sleep, and overall well-being. The initiative aims to gather evidence to inform potential policies, including a possible ban on social media access for under-16s, following similar considerations in other countries. The government is responding to growing concerns about the mental health risks associated with unrestricted internet access for children.
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AI-ExtractedThese pilots are simply half measures that once again put the pressure on parents rather than holding big tech accountable.
The trial will involve about 4,000 students between the ages of 12 and 15 recruited from 10 Bradford secondary schools.
Nearly 30,000 parents and children have responded to the government’s digital wellbeing consultation, which closes on 26 May.
A proportion of 300 teens across all four nations of the UK will have their social apps disabled.
Hundreds of UK teenagers will trial social media bans, digital curfews and time limits on apps under a government pilot.
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