Swiss back tougher social media rules for minors, survey finds

The vast majority of Swiss want stronger protection for ​children and teenagers on social media, according ‌to a survey published on ​Sunday, as governments and courts ⁠worldwide intensify scrutiny of Big Tech over its impact on young users.

On Wednesday, a ‌Los Angeles jury found Meta and Alphabet’s Google negligent for designing ‌social media platforms that are harmful ‌to ⁠young people, in a ⁠verdict that will serve as a bellwether for numerous similar cases.

The Swiss study by polling ​firm GfS Bern ‌for the Mercator Foundation found 94% of respondents felt minors should be better protected from the damaging effects ‌of social media, while 78% believed large ​technology firms have too much influence over public opinion.

Swiss Interior ⁠Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider has said she is open to a potential ban ‌on social media for youngsters. Her government is drafting legislation to regulate major online platforms, aiming to make them more transparent.

The poll’s publication in newspaper SonntagsZeitung follows a decision by ‌neighbouring Austria on Friday to pursue a ​ban on social media use for children under 14.

The GfS Bern ⁠survey polled about 1,000 Swiss residents ⁠aged 16 and above between December 1 and 12. It had ‌a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, ​the paper said.