The UK government is launching a pilot program to test social media bans, digital curfews, and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers. The initiative aims to explore how different restrictions impact teens’ online habits and wellbeing.
Some participants will have their most-used social apps completely disabled, others will face overnight blocks, while a group will have app use limited to one hour per day. A control group will experience no changes, allowing officials to compare outcomes effectively.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall explained that the trials are designed to test “different options in the real world.” She added that the pilot will provide evidence to guide future decisions based on families’ experiences.
Children and parents involved in the study will be interviewed before and after the trial to assess how restrictions affect sleep, schoolwork, and family life. The government’s consultation on banning social media for under-16s will continue until 26 May.
Several countries, including France, Spain, and Indonesia, are considering measures similar to Australia’s ban on social media for young users. Campaigners and children’s charities broadly support such measures, while some experts warn that restrictions could be bypassed or push teens to unsafe corners of the internet.
Rani Govender, Associate Head of Child Safety Online Policy at the NSPCC, said the government must ensure tech companies design platforms with safety in mind. She stressed that children should access only age-appropriate content and services. “Failure to deliver this, and a social media ban for under-16s, would still be preferable to the current situation,” she said.
The Molly Rose Foundation welcomed the government’s careful approach. CEO Andy Burrows said parents want “decisive and evidence-based measures to protect children online,” and the pilot will provide valuable insights into practical interventions.
How the Pilot Will Work
- The trial will divide 300 teens into four groups.
- One group will have key social media apps completely blocked, simulating a full social media ban.
- A second group will face a daily 60-minute limit on app usage.
- A third group will experience overnight restrictions from 21:00 to 07:00.
- The fourth group will continue as normal to act as a control.
Participants will report on the effects of restrictions on their daily routines, family interactions, sleep, and school performance. Officials will also track practical challenges, such as setting up parental controls and workarounds teens may attempt. Data from the trial will be assessed alongside feedback from nearly 30,000 consultation responses from parents and children.
The government hopes the results will provide evidence for effective, practical ways to improve online safety for teenagers in the UK
