The majority of respondents to a recent Jersey poll said they would support a social media ban for children, according to research conducted by a Channel Islands market research agency.
The survey follows the UK’s move towards introducing restrictions on social media access for under-16s, with outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating that a ban for younger users could be implemented by spring 2027.
The poll found that 72% of the 839 Jersey residents aged over 16 who took part supported a social media ban for children under 16, while 23% opposed the proposal and 5% said they were unsure.
Former Channel Islands data protection commissioner and ethics expert Emma Martins said she welcomed the growing debate around children’s online safety, describing the discussion as long overdue as concerns continue to increase over the impact of social media on young people.
Martins said she was pleased the issue was receiving greater attention but cautioned against rushing to adopt policy changes without fully understanding the risks and challenges facing children online.
Her comments come as politicians in both Jersey and Guernsey continue to monitor developments in the UK and assess whether similar measures may be appropriate in the Channel Islands.
The survey also highlighted the extent of social media use among younger children, with 33% of parents reporting that children under the age of 10 use social media platforms. That figure rises to 79% among children aged between 10 and 15.
Jersey’s most recent recorded population stands at 104,450, and Lindsay Jefferies, Managing Director of Island Global Research, acknowledged that the survey sample was not fully representative of the island’s population.
However, Jefferies said the results showed a broadly consistent pattern of support for restrictions, particularly among respondents aged 25 and over, as well as among women and parents.
Participants were asked whether Jersey should introduce a social media ban for under-16s using a model similar to those being developed in the UK and Australia.
According to Jefferies, many respondents also provided additional comments explaining the reasons behind their support for or opposition to the proposed ban.
