More than half of young people dream of a world without internet
The study was conducted by the British Standards Institution with 1,300 young people between 16 and 21 years old. 68 % of respondents feel bad after spending time on social networks and half of the participants want a “curfew” digital to limit their time spent on these platforms.
Social networks cause young people’s discomfort
“That almost half of young people would prefer to grow without the internet should be an alarm signal for all of us”declares Daisy Greenwell, co -founder of Smart Phone Free Childhood. “We have built a world where it is normal for children to spend hours every day in digital spaces designed to keep them hanging.”
The problems begin from an early age: studies show that the use of a tablet in young children causes emotional and social gaps. The online experience is delicate in adolescence with the discovery of the Internet and adult sites.
It is an exciting transition for young people but exposes them to dangers such as online predators or algorithms that grow towards extreme content. The development of AI adds an additional concern while, according to Sam Altman, Many use Chatgpt to make important decisions of their lives.
Young people are exposed to the dangers of the Internet
Two thirds of the investigation participants spend more than two hours a day on social networks. Young women are more harassed than young men with 37 % and 28 % respectively. According to another study on 12,000 pre -adolescents for three years, there is a link between the intensive use of social networks and the intensification of depressive symptoms.
“Young people are now requiring limits-fire covers, age checks, significant restrictions and real protection”argues Daisy Greenwell. “They are ready for change.”
The solution will not be easy. “We must clarify that a digital curfew alone will not protect children from the risks they face online”warns Rani Govender, Policy Manager for the Safety of Children online at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, interviewed by The Guardian. “They will be able to see all these risks at other times of the day and they will always have the same impact.”
