Gen Z Britons tend to feel that social media has done more harm than good, with 84% in favour of banning under 13s from using it
As part of a major study for The Times, YouGov has conducted research into the lives and attitudes of Generation Z. Gen Z are the generation born between 1997 and 2012, although our survey only comprised those of adult age at the time of the study, i.e. 18-27 year olds.
One of the defining features of Gen Z is that they are the first generation for whom social media has been present from a young age. However, this doesn’t mean they necessarily see it as a good thing.
Four in ten Gen Z Britons (39%) say that, in their personal experience, social media has done them more harm than good, outnumbering the 29% who feel that it has in general been more of a force for good in their lives. A further 25% of Gen Z Britons, however, feel that neither description is apt for how social media has affected them.
It is this tendency to see social media as a harm that likely pushes many Gen Z Britons to support at least some restrictions on it. More than eight in ten (84%) would support a ban on using social media for people aged under 13, including 52% who would strongly support such a ban. This compares to just 11% of Gen Z Britons being opposed to a ban on pre-teens using social media.
Gen Z are, however, more divided when it comes to a hypothetical ban for those aged under 16, which 42% of Britons aged 18-27 would support, relative to 50% who would oppose such a ban.
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