Keir Starmer will announce a midnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds tomorrow
Social Media Intervention Research 2026: Social media restriction pilots: Qualitative research with 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK
Published 14 July 2026
1. Executive Summary
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) commissioned Savanta to run a qualitative study to explore the impact of social media restrictions on young people aged 13-17. The findings presented in this report are intended to contribute to the evidence base on children’s experiences of social media restrictions. Any primary research, subsequent findings or recommendations do not represent government views or policy. The study included 3 separate types of social media restriction, these were: limiting usage to 15 minutes per day (Intervention 1), installing a no-access curfew for social media from 9pm-7am (Intervention 2) and complete removal of access by uninstalling social media apps (Intervention 3).
This study provides indicative, qualitative evidence based on a relatively small sample and self-reported experiences. It is not designed to establish causal effects or to produce findings that are statistically generalisable to the wider population and should be read as exploratory rather than conclusive.
Note: The Prime Minister’s policy announcement of the social media ban on 15 June 2026 took place after the intervention period had closed. The majority of the post-intervention interviews (232) had been conducted by this date.
Key findings
Participants across the intervention groups reported a range of perceived benefits associated with social media restrictions, including improvements to wellbeing, sleep, and family life. Lasting impact appeared to be more likely where restrictions were supported by education and practical guidance and framed as a collective norm rather than an individual imposition.
Impacts of Social Media Restrictions
Participants consistently reported a range of perceived benefits associated with reduced social media use, most notably improvements in sleep, mood, concentration, study time, and family interaction. Young people frequently described going to bed earlier, feeling more rested, concentrating better in lessons and during revision, and feeling calmer with reduced stress. Participants often described these effects as cumulative, with improved sleep appearing, in their accounts, to support better daytime energy, focus, and emotional wellbeing. Across households, participants also reported increased in-person interaction and shared family time.
MORE:
It's understood the curfew will be switched on by default for 16 and 17-year-olds but users can turn it off
Measures on infinite scrolling will also be announced as well as efforts to tackle addictive features
Story: https://t.co/zs9PEwY2eB
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) July 14, 2026
h/t A Deplorable Neanderthal