Swiss Citizens Overwhelmingly Support Stricter Social Media Rules for Youth

A new poll reveals that 94% of Swiss residents believe children and teens need enhanced protection from harmful social media content. The survey comes as Switzerland's government considers potential age restrictions and new regulations for major tech platforms.

ZURICH – An overwhelming majority of Swiss citizens are calling for enhanced safeguards to shield young people from harmful content on social media platforms, according to polling data released Sunday. The findings emerge as lawmakers and legal systems around the globe increase pressure on major technology companies regarding their effects on youth.

Earlier this week, a jury in Los Angeles determined that Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet acted negligently by creating social media platforms that cause harm to young users. This landmark ruling is expected to influence many similar legal proceedings currently underway.

The research, conducted by GfS Bern polling organization for the Mercator Foundation, revealed that 94% of those surveyed believe young people require enhanced protection from social media’s negative impacts. Additionally, 78% of respondents expressed concern that major tech corporations wield excessive power over public discourse.

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Switzerland’s Interior Minister, has indicated receptiveness to potentially prohibiting social media access for minors. The Swiss government is currently developing new regulations targeting major online platforms with goals of increasing transparency requirements.

These poll results, featured in SonntagsZeitung newspaper, come just days after neighboring Austria announced Friday its intention to implement a social media prohibition for children younger than 14.

The GfS Bern research surveyed approximately 1,000 Swiss citizens ages 16 and older during the period from December 1 through 12. The study carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, according to the publication.