UK teens report sleep, wellbeing gains under social media restrictions, study shows

LONDON, July 14 : British teenagers who took part in a government-backed trial of social media restrictions reported improvements in sleep, concentration and wellbeing, according to a study published on Tuesday.• A complete ban on social media apps generated the strongest reported gains in focus but also the greatest social disruption.• An overnight social media curfew was the easiest restriction for families to maintain and produced the most consistent reported sleep benefits.• Restrictions were commonly bypassed through tablets, laptops and old phones, while the teenagers said broader controls could also be circumvented through VPNs and false age declarations. • The study, involving 309 households, was commissioned by the government before outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced p