With growing discussion around the latest government proposal to ban social media for under-16s, questions about young people’s online lives have moved to the centre of public, educational, and policy conversations.

While headlines often focus on the risks of social media, understanding its impact on young people’s wellbeing requires careful examination of the evidence. At the BrainWaves Living Well Conference on 6 July 2026, we’ll present the latest data and insights on adolescent social media use.

In the session How Social Media Impacts Young People’s Wellbeing, Professor John Gallacher (University of Oxford) reveals brand new insights from the BrainWaves Cohort Study into the impact of specific social media platforms on young people’s wellbeing.

Professor Mireille Toledano (Imperial College London) will discuss findings from the SCAMP study (Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones) specifically about the impact on cognitive function and sleep.

Dr James Lian and Dr Morgane Kuenzi (University of Oxford) present new data on how young people actually use social media and how different patterns of use can heavily influence their mental health.

Finally, Jessica Grannatt (Head of Wellbeing, Benenden School) talks about how the newly released BrainWaves lessons on social media effectively translate these research learnings into the classroom. 

Drawing on both published research and emerging data not yet released, the session will explore how young people are actually engaging with social media and how different patterns of use relate to wellbeing outcomes.

As debate continues around proposals for age-based restrictions and social media bans, the session moves beyond assumptions and provides an evidence-based perspective on the issues currently shaping policy discussions. 

Attendees will hear the latest research examining whether the evidence supports a total ban, the potential unintended consequences of such an approach, and which forms of regulation may be most effective in promoting young people’s safety and wellbeing online.

By grounding current news and policy debates in robust scientific data, the session will contribute to a more informed understanding of how social media affects adolescents today. It will also provide an opportunity for researchers, educators, school leaders, and practitioners to engage with emerging evidence and discuss how best to support young people in navigating digital spaces safely and confidently.

As conversations about social media regulation continue to evolve, ensuring that decisions are informed by high-quality research has never been more important. This session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from researchers at the forefront of this work and to contribute to the ongoing discussion about adolescent wellbeing in the digital age.

The BrainWaves Living Well Conference takes place on Monday, 6 July 2026 at Prospero House, London. Tickets are still available.