- Talk
- Manchester
- 22 October 2026
How did we get here? The problem with the problem of social media
Social media and young people: separating facts, fears, and evidence
22 October 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Citylabs 1.0 Bruntwood Sci Tech
0 Nelson Street, Manchester M13 9NQ
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£15.00 General Admission / £6.00 Students / Members book for FREE
Fully accessible area and space.
Overview
Young people spend a great deal of time online, while concerns about their mental health and wellbeing are growing. The conclusion can seem obvious: social media must be making young people unhappy.
But is the evidence really that straightforward?
In this talk, Margarita Panayiotou and Neil Humphrey will critically examine one of the most influential claims of our time: that social media is a major cause of poorer mental health and wellbeing among young people.
They will explore how this idea became so powerful. Why are new technologies so often blamed for problems affecting young people? How do news coverage, political debate and compelling personal stories shape public opinion? And what can earlier fears about penny dreadfuls, television and violent video games teach us about today’s social-media debate?
The speakers will then turn to the research. They will consider whether social-media use leads to poorer wellbeing, whether the relationship might work in both directions, and why it matters what young people are doing online, not simply how many hours they spend there. They will also examine claims about “addiction” and ask how confidently existing studies can establish cause and effect.
The discussion is especially timely. The UK is planning restrictions preventing covered social-media services from being offered to under-16s from spring 2027, while statutory guidance on mobile phones now applies to schools in England. What happens when an apparently straightforward explanation becomes the basis for national policy?
This is neither a defence of social-media companies nor a denial of online harm. Young people can encounter bullying, exploitation, damaging content and other genuine risks online. Instead, the event is an invitation to look beyond the headlines and ask:
How certain are we about what social media is doing to young people, and is the evidence strong enough to support the policies being proposed?
What you’ll discover
- How fears about new media have developed throughout history.
- Why some claims about social media receive more attention than others.
- What research can, and cannot, tell us about cause and effect.
- Why different online activities may have different consequences.
- How evidence about young people’s digital lives is being translated into policy.
- Are we actually as certain as we think we are about what social media is doing to young people?
Join us for an accessible, evidence-led discussion and make up your own mind.
Practical Information
There will be free refreshments (Drinks Only) available from 6pm, prior to the talk commencing at 6.30pm
Booking is essential. There is a multi storey car park near the venue.
Accessibility Information
Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing events@manlitphil.ac.uk
Professor Neil Humphrey
Neil Humphrey is the Professor of Psychology of Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. His research focuses on what we mean by wellbeing, why wellbeing matters, what matters for wellbeing, and what works for wellbeing, in children and young people. Neil’s research has been funded by NIHR, ESRC, TNLCF, DfE and others. When he is not working at the University, Neil moonlights as an unpaid taxi driver for his three daughters. Neil’s new book, entitled “Everything We Know Is Wrong: Rethinking Child and Adolescent Mental Health”, is due for publication by Policy Press in 2027.
Dr Margarita Panayiotou
Dr Margarita Panayiotou is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Education at the University of Manchester and Co-Director of the SMiLE (Studying Mental Health in Life and Education) Research Centre. Her research focuses on child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing, with interests in measurement, digital engagement, and understanding how mental health develops and changes over time. Margarita’s work combines advanced quantitative methods with participatory approaches to improve how complex psychological and social experiences are conceptualised and measured. She works with young people, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to produce research that can inform policy and practice.