Beyond the headlines: what the government’s smartphones study means for bullying

Rather than making claims about whether phones or social media are good or bad for children, the report focuses on the quality of existing research and how future studies could better understand impacts on children’s wellbeing, health, education and experiences such as bullying.

You can read the full report here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0b46bbcea094189e2366/impact-smartphones-social_media-children-study.pdf

What is the report and why was it commissioned?

The report, Feasibility study of methods and data to understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people, was commissioned by the UK government to assess whether current research is strong enough to inform policy decisions.

Its core purpose is not to draw conclusions about harm or benefit, but to explore what evidence exists, how reliable it is, and what kinds of research would be needed to answer key policy questions in the future.

The main findings in brief

The report makes several important overarching points:

• There is currently very limited high quality causal evidence about the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people
• Most existing studies show associations rather than cause and effect
• Research findings are often inconsistent, use different measures, and are hard to compare
• Rapid changes in technology make it difficult for research to keep pace
• Better data, clearer definitions and more robust research designs are urgently needed

Overall, the report concludes that policymakers should be cautious about drawing strong conclusions from the existing evidence base and should invest in better designed long-term research.

What does the report say about bullying?

Bullying is discussed within the report as part of its review of existing research, rather than as a central focus of new analysis.

Key points include:

• The report recognises bullying and cyberbullying as significant concerns linked to children’s digital lives
• However, it finds no strong causal evidence that smartphones or social media directly cause bullying behaviour or victimisation
• Most studies examining bullying and digital technology are observational, meaning they can identify links but not prove cause
• Findings across studies are mixed, with some suggesting increased risk, others showing little effect, and some highlighting potential protective factors

For example, some international evidence hints that smartphone restrictions in schools may be associated with lower levels of bullying among adolescents, but this evidence is limited and not sufficient to draw firm conclusions, especially for younger children.

Because of wide variation in research design, measurement and context, the report emphasises that better quality studies are needed to understand how online and offline bullying interact and whether mobile technology plays a causal role.

Our view on online safety and bullying

Online bullying is a significant and harmful issue for children and young people. While smartphones and social media can increase risks, they also offer important benefits, and the evidence does not support blanket bans as an effective solution. Instead, tackling online bullying requires balanced, evidence based action, including education, clear boundaries, whole school approaches and stronger accountability for social media companies.

Find out more 

In summary

The government’s study does not conclude that smartphones or social media cause bullying. Instead, it finds that the current evidence base is too limited and inconsistent to support clear causal claims.

What it does make clear is the need for better research that reflects children’s real experiences, including how online and offline bullying overlap, and how protective factors such as relationships, school culture and support systems can reduce harm.

At the same time, we believe improving online safety requires practical, joined up action beyond bans - combining education, policy and technological accountability to better support children and young people.

Read Sonia Livingstone's blog on evidence for social media bans