The UK is launching a major new research initiative, the IRL trial, to investigate the effects of restricting social media use on adolescent health and digital wellbeing. Expected to be one of the largest studies of its kind globally, the trial will involve approximately 4,000 pupils aged 12–15 from 30 secondary schools in Bradford, with initial findings anticipated by summer 2027. Researchers will examine whether limiting social media access improves aspects of mental health, sleep quality, and social interactions.
The trial's design involves enforcing daily ‘social media budgets’ and night-time curfews via a custom research app installed on students’ primary devices. This app will restrict major platforms (like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat) to one hour a day and cut off late-evening access. Notably, messaging services like WhatsApp will not be restricted. The study employs a rigorous randomised design at the school year group level, ensuring entire peer groups experience the same conditions (restricted or normal use). This approach aims to capture social network effects rather than isolated individual responses. The primary outcome measure is self-reported anxiety, alongside other metrics like sleep patterns, experiences of bullying, body image, and overall wellbeing. The research is a joint effort between the Bradford Institute for Health Research, the University of Cambridge, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The IRL trial is considered a vital step toward generating robust, experimental evidence in a field currently dominated by observational studies that have yielded mixed results. Experts stress that this randomised design is necessary to determine if limiting social media causes measurable changes in child wellbeing, moving beyond correlation. This study comes amid intense public and political debate in the UK, where ministers are consulting on potential regulatory measures, including a possible ban on social media for under-16s (with a government report due by summer 2026).
Health organisations like the Royal College of General Practitioners welcome the study, noting clinicians are increasingly dealing with issues linked to digital harm, such as sleep disruption and anxiety. However, the Mental Health Foundation highlights the complexity, pointing out both the opportunities (reduced harmful content) and risks (cutting off supportive online communities) of formal restrictions. Critics and some research also underscore that existing evidence doesn't show a simple link between social media time and mental health problems; factors like cyberbullying, sleep, and offline support all interact with digital use. Ultimately, the Bradford study is positioned to strengthen the evidence base for digital health policy, potentially supporting calls for age limits or curfews, or prompting a shift toward design-focused regulation, digital literacy, and holistic approaches.
