news-tldr.com

The important facts, the open questions, and the sources — without the churn.

← Latest briefing

World News

IPPR report finds sharp rise in social isolation among young people in England

A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research links growing loneliness and mental health struggles among youth to social media, service cuts, and economic barriers.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 08:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the proportion of 16- to 21-year-olds in England with no close friends rose from 1% in 2014 to 5% in 2023-25.
  • The research attributes growing youth isolation to factors including youth club closures, housing unaffordability, social media usage, and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Mental health experts cited in the report highlight how the loss of real-world social infrastructure coincides with increasing anxiety and depression among young people.
  • The thinktank recommends addressing policy choices around public services, community spaces, and economic pathways to help young people transition into independent adulthood.

Key facts

  • According to the IPPR report, 5% of 16- to 21-year-olds in England reported having no close friends in 2023-25, compared to 1% in 2014.[The Guardian]
  • The proportion of 16- to 21-year-olds with at least three close friends dropped from 85% in 2012-14 to 72% in 2023-25.[The Guardian]
  • The percentage of 14- and 15-year-olds who reported being completely or very happy with their friendships fell from 86% to 76% over the same period.[The Guardian]
  • The average age of a first-time homebuyer has reached 34, and nearly 20% of young people spend half their income on rent.[The Guardian]
  • The IPPR findings relied on interviews with 150 young people alongside data from the National Centre for Social Research’s Understanding Society dataset.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • The precise weight of individual contributing factors—such as social media use versus economic conditions or pandemic disruptions—in causing youth isolation remains complex and subject to ongoing debate among researchers.[The Guardian]

Sources