SpaceTeen
Excessive social media use among young people is a growing societal concern. Many teenagers want to reduce their screen time, but the design of popular platforms encourages constant use. While parents, teachers, researchers, policymakers and young people themselves recognise the problem, structural solutions remain out of reach. Legislation is slow, tech companies feel little urgency, and current digital tools lack effectiveness. Young people have little influence over the design of their digital environment.
SpaceTeen aims to break this impasse through fundamental research, design-driven interventions and broad collaboration. The project focuses on strengthening the agency of young people and those around them, helping them regain control over their attention and time — without losing access to digital participation.
The project works towards a digital environment where young people can use responsibly designed social media platforms. To get there, SpaceTeen invests in three key areas:
- the development of effective self-control tools tailored to young users;
- design-led research into offline alternatives to screen use;
- and increased awareness of how platforms influence user behaviour.
Collaboration between creative professionals, researchers and young people is central to the approach. Young people are actively involved — not only as end users, but as co-researchers and co-designers of future solutions. The knowledge generated through this collaboration is carefully documented and shared with the wider field.
Over the next two years, SpaceTeen will give the public a behind-the-scenes look at its research and design work. This includes a dedicated project website, annual ScrollReports featuring key insights and outcomes, and ScrollCon in 2026 and 2027 — a public programme combining activities, research and expert sessions on digital environments for youth.
