300 UK teenagers to trial social media restrictions

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced a first-of-its-kind pilot initiative involving 300 teenagers to test the impact of social media restrictions. This six-week trial runs alongside a national consultation, which has already received nearly 30,000 responses and closes on 26 May 2026. The findings will help the government determine whether to implement a formal ban on social media for those under 16.

Participants will be divided into four groups to test specific interventions. These include a total ban on selected apps enforced via parental controls, a one-hour daily time limit on popular platforms, and a digital curfew blocking access between 9pm and 7am. A fourth group will maintain their usual access to serve as a control.

Researchers will interview parents and children to assess the effects on sleep, schoolwork, and family life. The study will also examine practical challenges, such as the ease of setting up parental controls and the methods teenagers use to bypass them. Officials and academics will review trial data to provide an evidence base for future policies aimed at ensuring a healthier digital upbringing.

Additional reporting by The Guardian.

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