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Nearly half of teenagers say they’d rather grow up in a world without the internet, according to a new UK study highlighting the growing concerns young people have about the impact of social media on their mental health.
The survey, conducted by the British Standards Institution, found that 46% of 16- to 21-year-olds would prefer life without the internet, while nearly 70% said social media makes them feel worse about themselves. Half of those polled said they’d even support a nightly “digital curfew” that would block access to apps like TikTok or Instagram after 10 p.m.
The results come as the British government weighs new rules on app usage times. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle has suggested introducing mandatory cut-off hours for certain platforms in a bid to reduce online harm among youth.
The study also uncovered worrying trends in how teens behave online. About 42% admitted to lying about their age, and the same number confessed to hiding their online activity from parents. One in four said they spend more than four hours a day on social media, while 27% said they’ve pretended to be someone else online.
Digital safety advocates say curfews aren’t enough. Rani Govender, an online child safety expert with the NSPCC, warned that harmful content can be accessed any time of day and stressed the need for stricter platform regulations. “We need safer and less addictive platforms, not just time limits,” she said.
The report also found that nearly 70% of young people believe their time online harms their mental health, especially after the pandemic pushed them to spend even more time connected.
Andy Burrows, head of the suicide prevention charity Molly Rose Foundation, called on tech companies and lawmakers to step up. “Young people know the risks. They want better protection,” he said. He added that harmful algorithms can trap teens in toxic content loops and urged for regulations that prioritize children over profits.
*Source: The Guardian
