Teens Ditch Social Media for a Week and Find Life Surprisingly Boring!

A group of seven Year 10 students from King's Oak Academy in Bristol took part in an experiment where they stopped using social media for a week. These students, aged 14 and 15, usually spend up to seven hours a day on popular apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. When they agreed to stay off social media for seven days, they all described the experience as 'boring. ' Liv said she did not find anything as interesting as TikTok, and Joshua mentioned that his phone usually shows him things he likes, but without social media, he felt lost. Some of the students even opened the apps by accident, just out of habit, showing how much social media is a part of their daily lives.

Despite feeling bored, the students noticed some positive changes. Without social media, they spent more time with their families, watched TV, read books, and went for walks. Issy said she spent more time with her little brother and read more books. Joel talked to his mum more, and Elizabeth said she spoke to her family more because she was not always in her room. Jai and Ella both watched movies and went for walks instead of being on their phones. Some students felt disconnected from the world because they usually get their news from social media. Liv wondered how young people would stay informed if they could not use social media, especially since some teenagers will be able to vote soon.

The students also said they slept better and could focus more at school. Joel said he usually falls asleep with his phone on, but without it, he slept better and did not wake up in the night. Issy used the time to read books with her grandmother, and Liv worked more on her music and homework. Their teachers noticed that the students seemed happier and more relaxed during the week without social media. The school is now thinking about how to use this experiment to make new rules about mobile phones. The UK government is also considering new rules for social media use for children under 16, such as bans, curfews, and time limits. However, the students said they would not like a full ban because social media helps people connect and share things with each other. Senior Principal Katherine Ogden said the experiment is helping the school decide how to balance learning and social media use.