Although social media, a product of the internet age, provides people with convenient communication tools, it has also brought about many negative effects, such as addiction. A recent survey in the UK found that many in the Generation Z, a young demographic, believe that the disadvantages of social media outweigh the benefits. In fact, 80% of the respondents do not want their future children to use social media.
According to the report by the UK’s “Daily Mail,” this survey was conducted by the UK polling agency “More In Common” and the think tank “The New Britain Project,” surveying over 1,600 young people aged 16 to 24.
The results showed that half of the respondents regretted spending too much time on their phones when they were young, one-third wished they hadn’t started using social media so early, and a staggering 4 out of 5 said they would do their best to prevent their children from using social media.
Additionally, three-quarters of respondents believe that the government should implement stricter regulations to protect young people from the negative impact of social media (which is seen as the most negative influence on youth mental health). About half of the respondents think that the social media environment has worsened in the past 5 years, while two-thirds said that the security of social media has significantly declined.
Overall, female respondents had a more negative view of social media compared to males.
Luke Tryl, director of “More In Common,” mentioned that many in Generation Z in the UK regret the time they spent on electronic devices. “Young people in the UK and the wider public are calling on the government to take action to better protect children from the harm of social media.”
Generation Z is the first generation to grow up alongside the internet. The years defining this generation vary, with one definition being those born from 1996 to 2010.
This generation has been exposed to the internet and digital devices from a young age, lacking the experience in social interaction and relationship development. A survey in the US in 2023 found that about three-quarters of managers believe that Generation Z is the most challenging generation to work with in the workplace.
Apart from social media, another major concern for Generation Z is the rise of “deepfake” technology generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Deepfake technology refers to the use of AI to synthesize images or videos using real-world faces.
The “Daily Mail” reported that a survey conducted by the UK youth organization “Girlguiding” among 2,000 teenagers aged 13 to 18 showed that a quarter of the respondents had seen deepfake-generated pornographic content, featuring celebrities, friends, or even teachers.
The survey also found that 58% of 13-year-old respondents knew what deepfake technology was, with the figure rising to 62% among the overall teenage population.
The report from the survey stated, “Deepfake technology is one of the recent dangers encountered by teenagers on the internet. Young people often find it difficult to distinguish whether the content is real or AI-generated.”
The “Girlguiding” organization called on the government to empower schools and colleges to educate young people.
Angela Salt, the CEO of the organization, said, “Both girls and boys are frequently exposed to harmful content, which, even if it doesn’t appear in their social media algorithms, can be shared in schools.”
Salt urged social media companies to take responsibility and implement more measures to address harmful content targeting teenagers.