A new survey from YouGov has revealed that British citizens have strong concerns over social media’s impact on children, adults, and society at large.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Just under half of British people think the negatives of social media outweigh the positives, according to a new survey. 📺 DETAIL: According to British polling firm YouGov, 43 percent of Britons believe the negatives of social media outweigh its positives. By contrast, only 22 percent believe that the positives of social media outweigh the negatives. While 81 percent of Britons believe that social media negatively affects children under 16, and 49 percent believe it is very negative for children, when asked about fully grown adults, the number describing social media as very negative drops to only nine percent. Also, when asked about “the average person,” 32 percent of respondents said the impact of social media use is neither positive nor negative, while 21 percent see it as positive. Eighteen percent of British adults think that the drawbacks of social media “greatly” outweigh the benefits. Moreover, 57 percent of Britons hold a negative view of social media companies. Despite these concerns, 90 percent of Britons use social media, although 46 percent want to use it less. Furthermore, 64 percent of respondents believe social media is not inherently harmful when used responsibly, while 28 percent believe it is inherently harmful regardless of use. The data was published on Wednesday, following the British government’s announcement earlier this week of a social media ban for children under 16. 🎯 IMPACT: The survey underscores growing public frustration with social media companies. Such findings are likely to be weaponized by the British government, which announced a ban on social media for children under 16 earlier this week. Significantly, the ban will require adults to upload ID to prove that they are old enough to use social media, curbing online anonymity and privacy, ostensibly to protect children from cyberbullying, endangerment, and mental health problems. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “While Britons overwhelmingly think social media has had a negative impact on children, the public are much more divided when it comes to adults.” – YouGov 📺 FLASHBACK: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the under-16s social media ban on Monday. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube will need to implement age-verification systems, such as facial recognition and ID checks, but messaging apps and educational platforms, including WhatsApp and Google Classroom, are excluded. “A full ban is the right choice… I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children,” said Starmer in a press conference. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has argued that, while the ban is “well-intentioned,” it is “unlikely to work given the mass adoption of VPNs,” while cautioning against “the introduction of Digital ID via the back door.” |
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
