Banning social media for under-16s? The UK is launching a large-scale experiment

Australia has already taken the plunge, while France is debating and the UK is conducting a trial. We know that social media can be problematic, especially for younger people. Instead of legislating blindly or backing down indefinitely under pressure, the British government has chosen a scientific approach. It wants to pilot several levels of restrictions on real teenagers in real families for six weeks. The goal is to measure what can change.

300 teens, 4 groups, and 1 single objective

The scheme, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is recruiting 300 teenagers aged 13 to 17 from the four nations of the United Kingdom.

They are divided into 4 groups with radically different conditions.

• Group 1: a complete ban on social media apps to simulate a real ban.
• Group 2: a maximum of one hour per day on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
• Group 3: access blocked between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., similar to a digital curfew.
• Group 4: no restrictions are planned; this is a control group.

Families will be interviewed at the beginning and end of the trial. Researchers will measure the impact on academic performance, sleep quality, and family relationships.

Political pressure has been mounting for months

In January 2026, the House of Lords voted, against the government's advice, for an amendment to ban social media for those under 16, with 261 votes in favor and 150 against. Celebrities like actor Hugh Grant have publicly supported the initiative. Pinterest is also in favor and is calling for a ban for those under 16.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to endorse the amendment without real data but stated that he was not ruling out any options. The national consultation, which opened in early March, has already received nearly 30,000 responses. It closes on May 26.

Depending on the results, decisions will undoubtedly be made.

The accompanying academic study

In parallel, an academic study, led by University of Cambridge psychologist Amy Orben in partnership with the Bradford Institute for Health Research, is recruiting 4,000 students aged 12 to 15 in 10 schools in Bradford. The aim is to measure the effects of reducing social media use on a larger scale.

Both initiatives aim to produce a body of evidence robust enough to justify (or not) national legislation. Let's not forget that the stakes are enormous, namely a ban for those under 16. It would disrupt the business model of Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat in one of the largest European markets.

We will have to wait until summer 2026 to see the results. In any case, the United Kingdom could become the first major European country to ban social media for minors. This study will show us that perhaps simply restricting access will be enough.