According to a survey conducted by research company GfS Bern (Switzerland) for the Mercator Foundation, up to 94% of respondents believe that adolescents need to be better protected from social media risks.
At the same time, 78% believe that technology corporations are having too much influence on public opinion.
This result reflects the general trend in Europe and many other regions of the world, where governments are increasingly tightening control over technology platforms, especially when it relates to young users.
Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said she is ready to consider stronger measures, including the possibility of banning minors from using social networks. The country's government is currently drafting a law to enhance the transparency and responsibility of major online platforms.
This move takes place in the context of increasing legal pressure on technology giants.
Recently, a jury in Los Angeles concluded that Meta and Google were negligent in designing the platform that harms young people. This ruling is said to be able to create a precedent for many similar lawsuits in the future.
Not only Switzerland, other European countries are also considering strong measures. Among them, Austria recently proposed banning children under 14 years old from using social networks, showing an increasingly strict management trend.
The survey by GfS Bern was conducted with about 1,000 people aged 16 and over between December 1st and 12th.
Although the scale is not too large, the results still show high social consensus on the need to take action to protect children from the digital environment.
In the context of social networks becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people, stricter control policies may continue to be promoted, not only in Switzerland but globally.
