In the United Kingdom, disillusionment with the digital world is taking root among young people. A new study reveals that many aged 16 to 21 are beginning to question the internet’s role in their lives, with a significant portion stating they'd rather exist in a world where it never developed.
The research, conducted by the British Standards Association, surveyed 1,293 individuals in this age range. Its results reflect a profound shift that is nearly half of the participants expressed a desire to live disconnected from the web, a sentiment that underscores growing emotional strain linked to modern digital habits.
When asked about social platforms, a large majority admitted feeling worse after browsing apps such as Instagram and TikTok. This aligns with broader concerns that these platforms erode confidence, increase anxiety, and diminish self-worth, especially among teens who find themselves trapped in cycles of comparison and constant notification.
Alarmingly, the study also sheds light on risky behaviors that have become normalized online. Four out of ten respondents admitted to misrepresenting their age to access content or services not intended for their demographic. Similarly, a sizable percentage reported using deceptive accounts to conceal their identity or impersonate others—actions that point to a broader issue of online insecurity and fractured self-image.
One in four participants said they had shared their real-time location with individuals they had never met in person, a behavior that raises serious safety questions. This type of digital openness, especially among younger users, has triggered calls from campaigners for tighter platform design rules, as reactive parental controls and curfews appear insufficient on their own.
Many of those surveyed also supported the concept of a structured limit on screen time, particularly in the form of a 10 p.m. cut-off for apps widely seen as addictive. This backing for digital curfews signals a notable reversal—young users, rather than just older policymakers, are beginning to ask for guardrails.
Some respondents tied their online dependence to the global lockdowns of recent years, which confined social interaction to screens and made scrolling an everyday norm. For this age group, which came of age during a uniquely digital chapter of history, the psychological aftershocks are still unfolding.
While curfews and restrictions may offer short-term relief, many experts believe a larger overhaul is necessary. Platforms, they argue, must take greater responsibility in designing for well-being rather than engagement alone.
This generational wake-up call doesn’t come from parents or educators—it comes from Gen Z itself, now pushing back against a hyper-connected world it once embraced.
Read next: Altman Signals Humanoid Robots Will Shake Up Society Before Most Expect
The research, conducted by the British Standards Association, surveyed 1,293 individuals in this age range. Its results reflect a profound shift that is nearly half of the participants expressed a desire to live disconnected from the web, a sentiment that underscores growing emotional strain linked to modern digital habits.
When asked about social platforms, a large majority admitted feeling worse after browsing apps such as Instagram and TikTok. This aligns with broader concerns that these platforms erode confidence, increase anxiety, and diminish self-worth, especially among teens who find themselves trapped in cycles of comparison and constant notification.
Alarmingly, the study also sheds light on risky behaviors that have become normalized online. Four out of ten respondents admitted to misrepresenting their age to access content or services not intended for their demographic. Similarly, a sizable percentage reported using deceptive accounts to conceal their identity or impersonate others—actions that point to a broader issue of online insecurity and fractured self-image.
One in four participants said they had shared their real-time location with individuals they had never met in person, a behavior that raises serious safety questions. This type of digital openness, especially among younger users, has triggered calls from campaigners for tighter platform design rules, as reactive parental controls and curfews appear insufficient on their own.
Many of those surveyed also supported the concept of a structured limit on screen time, particularly in the form of a 10 p.m. cut-off for apps widely seen as addictive. This backing for digital curfews signals a notable reversal—young users, rather than just older policymakers, are beginning to ask for guardrails.
Some respondents tied their online dependence to the global lockdowns of recent years, which confined social interaction to screens and made scrolling an everyday norm. For this age group, which came of age during a uniquely digital chapter of history, the psychological aftershocks are still unfolding.
While curfews and restrictions may offer short-term relief, many experts believe a larger overhaul is necessary. Platforms, they argue, must take greater responsibility in designing for well-being rather than engagement alone.
This generational wake-up call doesn’t come from parents or educators—it comes from Gen Z itself, now pushing back against a hyper-connected world it once embraced.
Read next: Altman Signals Humanoid Robots Will Shake Up Society Before Most Expect
