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July 2025 - Education

Seven out of 10 young people feel worse about themselves after going online, according to a recent study: A study of 16-21-year-olds has revealed that over two-thirds (68%) feel worse about themselves after being online and believe that being online is doing them more harm than good.

A new UK-wide survey by BSI (British Standards Institution) surveyed 1,293 young people earlier this year and found that despite an increase in their online use, young people are concerned about the negative impact of digital technology on their mental health, safety, and overall well-being.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of those surveyed admitted spending more time online because of the Covid-19 pandemic (which occurred when most would have been aged between 11-16 years old), and their online use has not abated over time. Over four in 10 (45%) said they spend three hours or more on social media, while around a third (34%) said they spend more than two hours a day gaming. Yet, tellingly, when asked if they would: ‘rather be young in a world without the internet,’ nearly half (47%) of those surveyed agreed, with young females significantly more likely to agree than males (52% cf. 40%).

While many of the young people surveyed appear to be confident about online safety - three-fifths (61%) reported being ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ confident when it comes to checking and changing online privacy settings and over half (55%) said they understood what an algorithm is – they are not particularly risk-averse when it comes to online safety. Almost three in 10 (29%) admitted sharing their location with strangers, and of those, 27% said they had received unwanted attention as a result. And equally worryingly, over four in 10 (43% males vs 42% females) admitted to pretending to be a different age while online.

Young women appear particularly vulnerable when it comes to online safety. They report higher levels of online harassment (37% vs. 28% for young men), are more likely to create fake accounts (43% vs. 36%), and are significantly more influenced by social media when making purchases (79% vs. 59%).

There is a clear demand for greater protection from those surveyed. Just under four-fifths (79%) believe technology companies should be legally required to embed strong privacy features like age verification into platforms for young users, and over a quarter (27%) also support banning phones in schools. Significantly, half (50%) believe that a social media curfew, which would prevent them from accessing platforms at certain times of the day, would improve their quality of life.

Daisy Greenwell, Co-founder of Smart Phone Free Childhood, described the findings as a “wake-up call,” adding:” Whatyoung people need now is for the adults in charge — governments, regulators, and tech leaders — to step up and meet them there. Their mental health and right to a safe, healthy childhood must come before profit.”

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