Nearly half of young people would prefer to live in a world without the internet, according to a new survey that paints a stark picture of digital life’s toll on youth mental health and well-being.
The survey, conducted by the British Standards Institution, according to The Guardian, found that 46 per cent of 16 to 21-year-olds would rather grow up in a world without the internet. The findings come amid growing concerns over the psychological impact of social media and the lack of online safety for young users.
A striking 68 per cent of respondents said spending time online negatively affected their mental health, while 70% reported feeling worse about themselves after using social media. Despite this, a quarter of respondents said they spend four or more hours on social media each day.
In a sign of how deep the issue runs, 42 per cent of those surveyed admitted to lying to their parents about what they do online. Nearly half had lied about their age, while 40 per cent said they had a secret or “burner” account, and more than a quarter (27 per cent) had pretended to be someone else altogether.
The study also found troubling online behaviours, with 27 per cent of young people saying they had shared their location with strangers. Three-quarters said their screen time increased after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid these revelations, 50 per cent of young people surveyed expressed support for a “digital curfew” that would restrict access to certain apps, such as TikTok and Instagram, after 10 pm. The UK government has signalled it is considering mandatory cut-off times for certain platforms.
However, experts caution that curfews alone won’t solve the problem. Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, said: “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.”
Govender emphasised the need for safer, less addictive online spaces. “The focus should be on ensuring young people are using much safer and less addictive sites,” she said.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation, echoed the call for urgent reform. “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,” he said.
Burrows warned about the dangers of harmful content pushed by algorithms. “Young people can quickly spiral down rabbit holes of distressing material through no fault of their own,” he added. “New laws are urgently required to embed a ‘safe by design’ approach that puts children and society ahead of big tech profits.”
As debate over digital safety grows louder, the message from young people is clear: the internet as it stands may be more burden than a blessing.
