What happens when pupils cut back on social media?

The UK government has dropped a bombshell, announcing a landmark social media ban for all under-16s set to take effect in Spring 2027, a decisive move by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to 'give children back their childhoods' amid escalating concerns over digital harms. Concurrently, thousands of Bradford pupils are participating in the groundbreaking 'IRL Trial,' a scientific study designed to quantify the real-world impact of restricted social media use on adolescent mental health and wellbeing. The sweeping ban, which includes platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X but excludes messaging services, follows overwhelming public consultation support and mirrors Australia's approach while adding further restrictions on features like livestreaming and stranger communication. This policy push collides with an ongoing debate about the efficacy of such blanket restrictions, with some tech companies warning of a potential shift to less regulated online spaces, and researchers highlighting sleep disruption as a primary driver of negative outcomes linked to excessive screen time. The Born In Bradford study IRL Trial, limiting participants to one hour of social media daily and blocking overnight use, is thus poised to provide critical empirical data as the UK navigates this unprecedented regulatory landscape. As the government prepares to bring the legislation to Parliament before Christmas, challenges around age verification and enforcement are expected to intensify, while the tech industry grapples with the implications for their engagement models. The full results from the Bradford trial, anticipated in early 2027, will be a crucial input, offering a scientific lens on whether reduced screen time genuinely translates to improved youth mental health, sleep quality, and academic performance, thereby shaping future iterations of digital policy and potentially influencing global approaches to online child safety.