BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize’s Teen Summit will bring together young voices to explore the biggest issues facing UK teenagers today.
On Tuesday 16th of September, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize will unveil exclusive findings from a new survey. In a special morning of live programming from Bradford, the event will feature expert analysis, real-life stories, and debate led by young people themselves.
The online poll, conducted by Survation on behalf of BBC 5 Live and BBC Bitesize, asked over 2,000 teenagers* aged 13-18 about the issues shaping their lives – from mental health and social media to gaming, safety, and the rise of AI.
Survey findings include:
Digital overload and misinformation
- More than a third (38%) spend five hours a day or more on their phones. One in 20 spends eight hours or more on their phones per day.
- 66% worry about fake news and misinformation online.
- 51% have encountered conspiracy theories online.
Wellbeing concerns
- Nearly a third of girls have sought professional help for mental health (32%).
- 74% of girls feel anxious at least some of the time.
- Over two-thirds (69%) of all participants reported feeling anxious at least some of the time, with pressure around exams and grades the biggest worry.
- 65% of all respondents feel overwhelmed at least some of the time.
AI anxiety and gaming habits
- Nearly half (47%) have used AI to help with homework or coursework in 2025, up from 36% in 2024 and 29% in 2023.
- This year’s survey asked about gaming for the first time: the vast majority (94%) of teenagers play video games, with just under a third (31%) playing every day.
- 30% worry about AI’s impact on issues including jobs, creativity and the spread of misinformation.
Harmful content and harassment
- More than half reported seeing sexist content online and more than half reported seeing racist content.
- 44% have seen extremely violent content.
Safety concerns
- 44% worry about knife crime in their local area.
- 30% of teenage girls have experienced sexual harassment in school.
Despite these challenges, nearly eight in ten (79%) teenagers said they are feeling positive about their future – 13 percentage points higher than just two years ago.
Teen Summit on BBC Radio 5 Live
The survey findings will be at the heart of the Teen Summit coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize (www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize).
On Tuesday 16 September, 5 Live Breakfast will be live in Bradford, where Rachel Burden will share exclusive insights from the survey and speak to four teenagers who trialled ‘tech-free bedrooms’ to see how ditching devices affected their sleep, school and family life. Plus, Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor of Digital Humanities at UCL and author of Smartphone Nation will provide expert analysis throughout the morning.
Then from 9am–11am, Nicky Campbell will host an audience of young people from schools and colleges in Bradford. Influencer Tallulah Metcalfe (5.4 million TikTok subscribers) will join the debate on issues facing teenagers today – from AI and misinformation to the addictive nature of tech.
BBC 5 live and BBC Bitesize’s Teen Summit in Bradford will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and social platforms.
Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Teenagers are growing up in a world that’s changing at speed. These findings provide insight into how much they’re navigating every day – from conspiracy theories online to concerns about AI and safety in their communities. Our 2025 Teen Summit is about putting their voices centre stage.”
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education, said: “It’s clear from the findings of our teen survey that while technology and AI bring opportunities, they also bring pressures. Young people are navigating a fast-moving world, and at Bitesize we want to make sure they have the right tools, resources and voices to guide them through, not just with their studies but also with the challenges they face every day.”
BBC Bitesize
For content and guidance aimed directly at young people, BBC Bitesize has launched a range of new support to coincide with the BBC’s Teen Summit:
- The World of Wellbeing vodcast (series 2), co-hosted by wellbeing and education influencer Kit Brown and clinical psychologist Dr T. Episodes explore issues such as body image, managing stress, toxic masculinity. All episodes can be found on the Study Support section of the Bitesize website and on BBC Sounds.
- The Bitesize Guide To School Life offers tips, videos and advice on the areas teenagers most want help with – from managing pressure to making the most of school life.
- A dedicated Teen section on Bitesize Study Support, including articles, quizzes and interviews. Highlights include a conversation with YouTuber TommyInnit (50million subscribers) on growing up with tech and AI, a guide to the dos and don’ts of using AI, and quizzes such as “Are you addicted to your phone?”. Teenagers can also take a mini quiz to see how their views compare with the 2,000 surveyed.
- Bitesize’s media literacy project Other Side of the Story is also supporting students with a range of content that helps them understand some of the digital concerns raised in the survey, including:
o A Teen version of its popular monthly AI or Real Quiz
o Information and support on how teenagers can recognise and online conspiracies.
o A guide on how three of the most popular online conspiracies were debunked.
o And an interactive quiz that helps students differentiate facts from conspiracies.
Listen to the BBC’s Teen Summit on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Tuesday 16 September from 6am. Nicky Campbell’s live audience programme will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and social platforms.
Go to Bitesize Study Support (www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/study-support) for in-depth information, articles and quizzes for teenagers on many of these topics, as well as the World of Wellbeing vodcast and The Bitesize Guide To School Life.
