Social media and eating disorders

Background

Introduction

We are undertaking this survey to better understand lived experience perspectives on the Government’s consideration of restricting children’s access to social media, including the possibility of a social media ban for children under a certain age.

Individual anonymised responses to this survey will be considered collectively alongside others, together with research and wider evidence, to help inform Beat’s organisational position on this matter. The survey will take around 10-15 minutes to complete. However, please take as long as you need to respond to each answer. There are no right or wrong answers - we want to hear your views.     

The survey might be distressing for people currently experiencing or caring for somebody with an eating disorder. We would recommend that you only complete the survey if you feel comfortable and well enough right now to do so. 

The survey will be open until 11:59pm on Sunday 22nd March 2026.

Background Information



Recently, the Government has launched a national consultation and conversation on children's use of social media and mobile phones, with a response expected in summer 2026.  You can read the Government's announcement by clicking here. 

They are considering strong restrictions on social media, including:

  • A potential social media ban for children under a certain age
  • Raising the digital age of consent - this is the age someone must be before they are able to give their consent to online service providers (e.g., a social media platform) to process their personal data. Anyone below this age would need a parent or guardian to provide consent to the online service provider.
  • Improved age assurance to enforce age limits. Age assurance is how websites and apps check how old someone is, so they can make sure children and young people are not exposed to content that is not suitable for them. This can be done in a few different ways, for example:
    • Using technology to estimate someone’s age from a photo or video of their face
    • Asking someone to upload a passport or ID to confirm their date of birth
    • Asking someone to simply enter their age themselves 
  • Restricting addictive design features e.g., infinite scrolling, streaks
  • Options such as phone curfews and enhanced parental controls

Data protection  

By submitting answers to questions in this survey, you give consent for your data to be used in line with our privacy statement.  

Direct quotes may be used by Beat with a pseudonym (false name), and we would only include quotes if they did not include any information that might identify you. If you would prefer for direct quotes not to be used, then there is an opportunity to opt-out of this before completing the survey.   

Support  

You can call the Beat Helpline on 0808 801 0677, or you can get in touch with a Beat advisor via email or webchat. The helpline is open from 3pm–8pm, Monday to Friday. Beat offers support and information to people with eating disorders, those who support them and professionals. For details of Beat's Helpline and other support services, please click here.  

For crisis support, the Samaritans telephone helpline is open 24/7 at 116 123. You can also text SHOUT on 85258, which is also open 24/7.   

In England, Scotland, and Wales you can call NHS 111 and select Option 2 for 24/7 mental health crisis support. In Northern Ireland you can call Lifeline for free on 0808 808 8000, which is also open 24/7.  

Before you start

Understanding of data collection

Quote consent


Contact Type


Please remember that you do not have to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable. You may skip entire sections or select 'Prefer not to say' on specific questions.   

*e.g., Atypical Anorexia, Purging Disorder, Night Eating Syndrome, Bulimia Nervosa/Binge Eating Disorder of Low Frequency and/or Limited Duration


*e.g., Atypical Anorexia, Purging Disorder, Night Eating Syndrome, Bulimia Nervosa/Binge Eating Disorder of Low Frequency and/or Limited Duration










DEMOGRAPHICS
We’d like to ask these final questions to help us understand how well we have done in reaching all groups and communities with this survey, and how experiences may vary between them. If answering any of these questions would make you uncomfortable, please select ‘Prefer not to say’.  




Contact Information