A new survey shows that a significant portion of young people in the UK feel that their lives would be better without the internet. The study, conducted by the British Standards Institution, polled 1,293 individuals aged 16 to 21, unveiling a range of concerns tied to internet usage. Nearly 70% of respondents reported feeling worse about themselves after spending time on social media.
Half of those surveyed support the implementation of a “digital curfew” that would restrict access to certain apps and sites past 10 pm. Furthermore, 46% of young people said they would rather navigate their youth in a world without the internet. A quarter of the surveyed population admitted to spending four or more hours a day on social media, while 42% confessed to misleading their parents or guardians regarding their online activities.
Alarmingly, 42% of respondents revealed they had lied about their age online, 40% admitted to maintaining decoy or “burner” accounts, and 27% said they posed as entirely different individuals at times.
Young people’s concern about internet usage
In response to these findings, technology secretary Peter Kyle hinted at the possibility of the government imposing mandatory cut-off times for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
However, experts caution that such measures alone are insufficient. Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, emphasized the complexity of online risks. A digital curfew alone will not 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,” she stated. Govender advocates for a broader approach, urging tech companies and the government to ensure children use “much safer and less addictive sites.
The survey also highlighted that 27% of young people had shared their location online with strangers. Three-quarters of the respondents reported increased online activity due to the pandemic, with 68% acknowledging that their online time negatively impacted their mental health.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the suicide prevention charity Molly Rose Foundation, noted, “It’s clear that young people are aware of the risks online, and, what’s more, they want action from tech companies to protect them.” Burrows called for new legislation to enforce “a safe by design approach to regulation that puts the needs of children and society ahead of those of big tech.”
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