United Kingdom

Report: Half of Young People Would Prefer Life Without the Internet

MAY 20 2025·Updated MAY 21 2025

Story

Above: A photo illustration of a school boy using an iPhone on Feb. 24, 2025, in Bath, England. Image credit: Matt Cardy/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

Nearly half of young people in the U.K. aged 16 to 21 would prefer to live in a world without the internet, according to a new study published on Tuesday by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
Bsigroup
guardian
According to the BSI’s research, 46% of the 1,293 young Britons surveyed favored living in an offline world, while 27% would prefer it if social media did not exist.
Bsigroup
guardian
The report also addressed online safety, concluding that young people "are prone to risk taking and not necessarily putting in place key protections," with 67% of respondents having shared their location online. 29%, meanwhile, shared their location with someone they had never met.
Bsigroup
Tech Digest
Additionally, the BSI revealed that young people were strong advocates for privacy regulations, with 79% of respondents supporting stricter laws requiring built-in privacy safeguards in software and technology used by young people.
Bsigroup
Secretldn
Notably, 50% of those surveyed said a social media curfew in the evenings would improve their lives. This follows comments by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, that the government was "watching [the idea] very carefully" in April.
BSI
The i Paper
The Telegraph
Commenting on the report, BSI CEO Susan Taylor Martin said that technology exposed young people to risk and that tech companies must "ensure their health and privacy are protected." Daisy Greenwell, director and co-founder of Smart Phone Free Childhood, said the results were "a wake-up call" and required stronger tech regulations.
BSI

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The BSI's study clearly shows that young people demand change. For too long, big tech companies have gotten away with pushing toxic algorithms and addictive platforms that have compromised the privacy and well-being of teens and early adults. To remedy this situation, key players in government, regulators, and technology must work together to push for the right regulations to protect young people.

BSI

Bsigroup

Narrative B

While the internet poses risks to young people, it's important to remember its positives. Through the internet, young people can express their opinions, keep in touch with family and friends, advance their skills and knowledge, and gain social awareness of wider issues. While regulations are a must to keep young people safe, they should not be so stringent that they lose the benefits they already have.