UK teen social‑media restriction trial shows sleep and wellbeing gains

A government‑backed trial involving 309 British households tested three approaches to limiting social‑media use among 13‑ to 17‑year‑olds: a 15‑minute daily cap per app, a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a complete removal of social‑media apps for a month. All groups reported improvements in sleep, mood, concentration, study time and family interaction, with the full ban producing the strongest gains but also the greatest social disruption. The curfew was the easiest for families to maintain and delivered consistent sleep benefits, while the 15‑minute cap suffered low compliance.

A separate study of 417 young adults aged 18‑24 in the United States examined a one‑week social‑media detox. Of the participants, 295 completed the detox and showed a 16.1% reduction in anxiety, a 24.8% drop in depression symptoms and a 14.5% decline in insomnia severity. No significant change was observed in loneliness. The findings suggest that even short‑term reductions in social‑media exposure can improve mental‑health indicators, though the durability of these benefits remains uncertain.