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Thousands of Bradford teenagers participate in social media screen time trial
Overview
Researchers at Born in Bradford have launched the IRL (In Real Life) trial, recruiting 4,000 secondary school students aged 12 to 15 to study the impact of limiting social media use on young people's mental health. The findings will help inform government policy regarding a proposed social media ban for under-16s by spring 2027. Participants use a smartphone app to limit access or continue as normal, completing questionnaires on anxiety, sleep, body image, and school life over a six-week period.
Key points
- Thousands of teenagers in Bradford have joined the IRL trial to limit social media use.
- The study is believed to be the first major scientific research into social media's impact on young people's mental health.
- Results will help inform government implementation of a potential social media ban for under-16s by spring 2027.
- The trial expanded from an initial 200 students to 4,000 students across Bradford secondary schools.
- Participants use a limiting smartphone app or act as a control group, completing questionnaires at the start and end of a six-week period.