Jordan's Digital Anxiety: public perceptions of social media and AI

Four numbers that shape the debate.

Released to mark Safer Internet Day, the study points to broad public agreement on the need for formal regulatory frameworks to safeguard children in digital environments — not just at the level of individual concern, but as a mandate for action.

Adults and young people experience the digital world differently.

Adults — particularly parents — tend to prioritize external and behavioral risks: exposure to inappropriate content, online exploitation or harassment, and digital addiction. Children and adolescents focus more on internal psychological effects: self-image, declining confidence driven by social comparison, and pressure linked to constant online presence.

These divergent framings matter for policy. Protective measures designed around the adult lens may miss the harms young people themselves report as most acute.

Concerns about safety are nonetheless widespread. 88% of respondents believe children under 12 cannot use social media safely, while 86% oppose independent use by children aged 15 and under. Age 17 emerges as the most widely accepted threshold for unsupervised use.

Use is widespread — and most emotionally intimate among the young.

More than 80% of respondents are worried about AI's impact on children's learning and decision-making, while 81% fear it could reduce real-world interaction or increase isolation. As with social media, adults consistently report higher levels of concern than adolescents.

At the same time, the study documents widespread and growing use of AI:

Parents first — but schools and law close behind.

Respondents clearly assign responsibility for children's digital safety. Parents are seen as the primary line of protection, alongside a central role for schools in delivering digital literacy and awareness programs.

There is also strong public support for practical safeguards, including limits on screen time and restrictions on the type of content accessible to children. Eighty-five percent (85%) of respondents express concern that social media weakens face-to-face relationships or increases social isolation.