A survey of people living in the Crown Dependencies has shown a majority would support the islands following the UK in banning access to social media for under 16s.
In Guernsey – out of 849 people who responded to the survey run by Island Global Research, 63% voted yes to the question ‘do you think the social media ban for under 16s should be introduced in your island?’.
Similarly high numbers also said yes in Jersey and the Isle of Man, as well as in Gibraltar.
The survey was only run over six days, immediately after the UK’s now outgoing-Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced the country’s new policy.
The ban is intended “to protect youth mental health and limit addictive online content” when it comes in next year.
Island Global Research put the question to members of the public in the islands between the 17 and 22 June.
The survey also found that of the 800+ respondents in Guernsey, a third already allow their children aged under 10 to use social media.
80% said their children aged between 10 and 15 also use social media.
This includes websites and apps such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and X.
Efforts have already begun to curtail the use of social media among children and teenagers in Guernsey.
The Smartphone Free Childhood movement held a meeting last weekend, where around 150 people gathered to hear from experts on the topic.
David Smith, Headmaster of The Fulham Boys School, spoke about how smartphones have been banned at his school while Guernsey’s former Data Protection Commissioner discussed what is happening to children online and what the risks are.
While the event explored options around banning smartphone use, rather than social media activity Ms Martins’ speech focused on the harmful online content that children can be exposed to and what impact mobile phone and social media use can have on developing young minds.