A recent UK study has revealed a surprising shift in attitudes among 16- to 21-year-olds.
Nearly half of them say they would rather live in a world where the internet didn’t exist.
In an age where digital connection is constant, this might seem unthinkable. Yet 50 % of respondents support the idea of a digital curfew after 10pm, and nearly 70 % feel worse after using social media.
This signals a growing discomfort with the very platforms that have defined their generation.
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Hidden identities and online secrecy
The survey, conducted by the British Standards Institution, also uncovered some revealing behaviours.
Forty-two percent of young people admitted to lying about their age online.
A similar number have "burner" accounts to hide their real activity. One in four have even pretended to be someone else entirely.
Even parents are kept in the dark — 42 % of respondents say they’ve lied about what they do online.
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Experts call for urgent reform
The findings have reignited debates about digital safety.
Andy Burrows, CEO of suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation, says young people are aware of online risks — and they want change.
Algorithms, he warns, can rapidly lead users into dangerous and distressing content.
That’s why he’s calling for regulation that prioritises children’s safety over tech industry profits.
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Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, agrees. While she acknowledges digital curfews could help, she insists they're not enough.
Without broader protections, harmful content remains just a click away.
Perhaps that’s why nearly half of respondents say it outright: life might be better without the internet.
This article is based on information from The Guardian.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.