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.