Skip to main content
Independent report

Social media restriction pilots: Qualitative research with 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK

Qualitative research from pilots exploring the impact of social media restrictions on 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK.

From:
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Published
14 July 2026

Documents

Social Media Intervention Research 2026: Social media restriction pilots: Qualitative research with 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK

HTML

Social Media Intervention Research 2026: Social media restriction pilots: Qualitative research with 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK

PDF, 606 KB, 64 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@dsit.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) commissioned Savanta to run a qualitative study exploring the impact of social media restrictions on young people aged 13 to 17.

The month-long pilot with teenagers tested 3 interventions:

  • limiting app use to 15 minutes per day
  • an overnight curfew between 9pm and 7am
  • removing designated social media apps entirely

309 families were involved in the study. Children and their parents were interviewed before and after the pilots to understand the feasibility of each restriction and the impact it had on their lifestyle, including wellbeing, sleep, offline activities and social connection.

The findings contribute to the evidence base on children’s experiences but do not represent government views or policy.

Updates to this page

Published 14 July 2026

Sign up for emails or print this page