A recent survey conducted in the UK has revealed that nearly half of young people aged 16 to 21 would prefer to live in a world without the internet. The survey, which involved about 1,300 participants, found that 68 percent of respondents felt worse about themselves after spending time on social media. The results of the survey highlight a growing sense of digital fatigue among young people.
Half of the respondents supported the idea of a “social media curfew” to limit the time spent on these platforms, while 47 percent wished they could experience life without the internet altogether. Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of Smart Phone Free Childhood, emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “That nearly half of young people would prefer to grow up without the internet should be a wake-up call for all of us. We’ve built a world where it’s normal for children to spend hours each day in digital spaces designed to keep them hooked.
Studies have shown that excessive use of devices like iPads in young children can lead to emotional and social issues as they grow older.
The online experience becomes particularly challenging during their teenage years, as increased exploration of the web often exposes them to potential dangers, ranging from online predators to problematic content pipelines. The rise of AI technology has further complicated the situation.
Youth call for internet-free living
For instance, the chatbot platform Character.AI has been criticized for its unintended consequences, including an incident where a 14-year-old boy developed an unhealthy attachment to a chatbot, leading to tragic outcomes. According to the survey, two-thirds of participants spend more than two hours daily on social media. Young women reported higher rates of harassment (37 percent) compared to young men (28 percent).
This aligns with another study tracking 12,000 preteens over three years, which found that increased social media usage correlated with rising depression symptoms. Greenwell argued, “Young people are now asking for boundaries — for curfews, age checks, meaningful limits, and real protection. They are ready for change.”
However, implementing effective measures to protect young people online remains complex.
Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said, “We need to make clear that a digital curfew alone is not going to protect children from the risks they face online. They will be able to see all these risks at other points of the day, and they will still have the same impact.
The conversation about online safety and mental health continues to evolve, and solutions will require a multifaceted approach. One thing is clear: the voices of young people are calling for substantial changes to how they engage with the digital world.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
