Cambridge Researchers Launch Study on Social Media’s Impact on Teens

A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Bradford Centre for Health Data Science aims to examine the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. The IRL (In Real Life) Trial will track approximately 4,000 students aged between 12 and 15 in Bradford, UK, focusing on whether limiting social media use can enhance mental wellbeing in teenagers.

The study will be co-led by Prof. Amy Orben, from Cambridge’s MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, and Dr. Dan Lewer, from the Bradford Centre. Participants will have their social media use restricted, with a complete ban on these platforms between 21:00 and 07:00. This initiative stems from discussions with teenagers, who expressed that social media often distracts them from real-life connections and activities.

Study Design and Methodology

Researchers will compare the mental health of students subjected to these restrictions with those who continue to use social media as usual. The restrictions will be randomly assigned to half of each year group, providing a controlled environment for analysis. Key metrics such as anxiety, sleep quality, body image, social comparison, and school attendance will be assessed through interviews, questionnaires, and data gathered from social media and phone browser applications.

Over a six-week period, a dedicated app will be installed on participants’ devices to control access to popular platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, while communication apps such as WhatsApp will remain accessible. The current plan is to limit social media screen time to one hour per day, although this may be subject to change as the study progresses.

Prof. Orben emphasized the urgency of this research, stating, “There is a range of evidence that social media is harming individual children and adolescents, including very severe harms, and that is irrefutable.” She highlighted the ongoing debates surrounding the need for safer online environments for young people, aiming to foster both healthy development and positive societal functioning.

A Unique Contribution to Research

Orben noted that this study marks a significant milestone, as it is the first large-scale experimental investigation targeting the reduction or removal of social media use among healthy individuals under the age of 18 globally. “To our knowledge, there has been no large-scale experimental study reducing or removing time spent on social media and healthy under 18-year-olds around the world,” she remarked, underscoring the study’s novelty.

The initiative is funded by the Wellcome Trust and is projected to span two years. Researchers anticipate completing data analysis by the summer of 2024, which will provide valuable insights into the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes in adolescents. This research not only aims to address immediate concerns but also seeks to inform future policies and practices regarding social media engagement among young people.