Social Media and Sleeplessness Raise Neet Risk

Former health secretary Alan Milburn has suggested that anxiety tied to social media use is contributing to growing levels of economic inactivity among young people in the UK.

Speaking ahead of the release of his interim review into young people who are not in employment, education or training (Neet), Milburn rejected the idea that this generation is simply lacking resilience. Instead, he described them as a “bedroom generation” shaped by constant online engagement.

According to Milburn, many young people are spending much of their lives in their bedrooms and remain continuously connected through their phones and social media. He warned that this lifestyle is affecting sleep patterns and concentration, which can in turn reduce readiness for work.

“People often describe them as a soft generation,” Milburn said, adding that he believes they are instead “an anxious generation”.

His report, due next week, reportedly includes conversations with groups of young people. Among ten participants aged 12 and 13, every child said they typically stayed awake until between midnight and 3am scrolling on their phones.

The review is also expected to argue that both welfare systems and workplaces were designed for earlier generations and may no longer meet the needs of today’s youth. Milburn said employers may need to provide stronger emotional and practical support for young workers experiencing mental distress.

He also argued that businesses have previously relied heavily on migrant labour and may now need to invest more in supporting and developing young domestic workers.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics estimate that 12.8% of people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were classified as Neet between October and December 2025.

The report reportedly highlights wider social pressures as well. It suggests that social media’s focus on rapid online success can encourage a “quitting culture” when progress takes time. It also criticises the education system, warning that intense exam pressure and limited post-school pathways outside university risk turning schools into a “Neet pipeline”.

Peter Hyman, co-author of Inside the Mind of a Young Neet, said many young people possess significant talent and ambition but face mounting barriers and emotional strain.

Concerns about the impact of social media on children and teenagers have also featured prominently in recent political debate. Following the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, the Government now has legal powers that could allow restrictions on under-16s’ access to certain social media platforms, as well as potential measures such as curfews or scrolling limits.

A public consultation, Growing up in the Online World, remains open until Tuesday as ministers consider future action.