Jordan's Digital Anxiety: Public Perceptions of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence

النص الكامل لهذه الدراسة متاح حاليًا بالإنجليزية. النسخة العربية قيد الإعداد.

This study examines public concerns around children's and adolescents' use of social media and AI, and levels of support for regulatory and protective measures. The report provides nationally representative data to inform public debate and policy discussions.

About this study

Released to mark Safer Internet Day, this national quantitative study captures Jordanian public opinion on children’s exposure to social media and artificial intelligence — and on the regulatory measures that might shape it.

The study was fielded between 20 December 2025 and 10 January 2026 across all governorates of Jordan, with a nationally representative sample of 1,471 respondents.

Key findings

85% of Jordanians are concerned about the impact of social media on children.
85% are concerned about the impact of AI on children.
90% support legislation restricting access to social media for children aged 15 and under.
87% support regulating children’s use of artificial intelligence tools.

A generational gap in how risk is understood

Adults — particularly parents — tend to prioritize external and behavioral risks: exposure to inappropriate content, online exploitation, 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.