Youth charity OnSide has undertaken the largest study of its type into the way 11–18 year-olds spend their free time. The results reveal that young people want to reduce the amount of time they spend on their phones – but simply don’t know how to break the habit.

Other headline results:
◼ 24% of 11–18-year-olds in the West Midlands spend most of their free time on their smartphone,
◼ 54% of the West Midlands’ young people would like to break the habit but 48% don’t know how,
◼ Young people in the West Midlands feel lonely and anxious – 47% have high or very high feelings of loneliness while 52% have high or very high feelings of anxiety,
◼ Young people in the West Midlands are crying out for real-life social experiences in their community – 30% say more affordable leisure activities like youth centres would do the most to improve their life outside school, while 24% want safe, fun social places to hang out with friends.

Our Youth Zone is more than just a safe space—it’s a vital solution to the growing dependency on smartphones and screens. Here, young people can reconnect with real experiences, discover new passions, and build genuine friendships. We believe every young person deserves access to an environment that fosters their growth, resilience, and well-being. It’s not just an opportunity; it’s their right.

To view the full report, go to Generation Isolation: OnSide’s Youth Research 2024 – OnSide