A study in Bradford, UK, involves restricting social media access for 4,000 to 5,000 children aged 12 to 15 over six weeks to assess the impact on their mental health. The trial, led by the Bradford Institute for Health Research and the University of Cambridge, monitors usage of ten apps including TikTok and Instagram while tracking behavior changes related to sleep, physical activity, and overall well-being. Participants receive incentives for compliance, with researchers aiming to determine if limiting social media use can improve adolescents' mental health and daily routines.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A study in Bradford is limiting access to social media for up to 6 weeks for 4,000 to 5,000 children aged 12 to 15. The trial involves monitoring and restricting use of apps like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Kick, and Twitch. Some participants will be allowed only two hours daily with a 9pm curfew, while others' usage is tracked without restrictions. Students complete questionnaires at the start and end to report on anxiety, sleep quality, body image, and school life impacts. Researchers aim to determine social media's effects on children’s mental health and behavior patterns.
Written for “Social Media Limits For Children Study” on 2026-10-11,
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Thousands of children will have their social media blocked for six weeks to see if it improves their mental health.
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it → have → health
The study, taking place across 12 schools in Bradford, aims to examine what impact restricting access to social media will have on the behaviour of children and teenagers.
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restricting → take → children
For the next six weeks, 4,000 to 5,000 children aged 12 to 15 will have their social media accounts restricted and monitored.
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accounts → age → weeks
Some pupils will only be able to use the ten selected apps for two hours a day, along with a 9pm curfew.
While others will be allowed to carry on as usual, but with their usage tracked.
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usage → use → curfew
The apps included in the trial are TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Threads, X, Kick and Twitch.
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apps → include → trial
Students will fill in short questionnaires at the start and end to share how they're feeling, covering things like anxiety, sleep, body image and school life.
Researchers are looking to find out what social media apps pupils use the most, and at what time of the day and for how long they use them.
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they → fill → them
For the next six weeks, 4,000 to 5,000 children aged 12 to 15 will have their social media accounts restricted and monitored (stock image)
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accounts → age → image
The restrictions can be overridden at the press of a button but pupils will be given points for sticking to rules, which increases their chance of winning a £100 prize voucher on top of the £20 voucher they receive for taking part.
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they → override → part
The £1.2m study, led by the Bradford Institute for Health Research and the University of Cambridge, is understood to be the world's first randomised controlled trial of social media restrictions.
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study → lead → restrictions
Trial manager Dr John Pickavance told The Times: 'We want to know if they are getting better sleep, will they be doing more physical activity, or will they just replace it with other forms of screen time - TV, video games, other things on the phone.
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they → tell → phone
One pupil, Lois Oredein, 12, said: 'It's better to socialise online sometimes because it can be awkward in real life.
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it → say → life
I speak to my friends on Snapchat.
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I → speak → Snapchat
And I watch funny videos on TikTok, just for like two hours each day.'
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I → watch → hours
Her classmate at Appleton Academy in Wyke, Bradford, Hannah Osin-Ntimoah, added: 'A lot of people learn stuff from social media and they can contact their friends.
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they → add → friends
It comes in advance of the government's social media ban for under-16s, which is set to be introduced next spring.
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which → come → under-16s
The crackdown is set to go further than Australia's by taking 'world-leading' action on gaming and live-streaming platforms so strangers will not be able to contact children.
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strangers → set → children
The restrictions will be required to be switched on by default for children up to 17.
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restrictions → require → children
And the Government is also looking at potential overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18s.
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Government → look → under-18s
Further action will see so-called AI 'romantic companion' chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – having to enforce a minimum age of 18, while there will also be age restrictions on AI chatbots more widely.
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chatbots → see → chatbots
Encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the UK's ban.
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services → include → ban
The Aporia
