Protecting young people online
Public attitudes to smartphones, social media & online safety
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72% of Britons believe social media has a negative impact on young people.
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Parents see social media as the top risk to their children’s well-being, ranking it above all other concerns and across all political and demographic groups.
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Gen Z agrees – nearly half say social media is the top negative influence on teenage mental health, and 50% wish they had spent less time on their phones growing up.
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There is overwhelming support for regulation – 86% of parents back raising the digital age of consent to 16, and 79% support stronger enforcement against "addictive by design" apps.
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Smartphone use in schools is a major concern – the majority support a national ban on phones in schools for under-16s.
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Social media companies are seen as unaccountable – public sentiment is clear: platforms have failed to self-regulate, and it’s time for stronger action.
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Government intervention is widely supported – people want decisive policies that prevent children from accessing harmful content and enforce real age restrictions.
"There should be no doubt where public sentiment lies on this. This isn’t just about anxious parents, Gen Z themselves recognise the harms. They’ve grown up with social media, they know how addictive and damaging it can be, and they’re calling for stronger protections."
