Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 29, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 29, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleA Reuters‑reported survey by GfS Bern for the Mercator Foundation finds overwhelming Swiss public support—94%—for stronger social media protections for minors; 78% say big tech exerts too much influence. This aligns with recent global legal and legislative pressure on platforms.
ZURICH, March 29 (Reuters) - 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.
(Writing by Dave GrahamEditing by Ros Russell)
According to the survey, 94% of Swiss respondents believe minors should be better protected on social media.
The survey was conducted by GfS Bern for the Mercator Foundation and published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.
The Swiss government is drafting legislation to regulate major online platforms, with Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume‑Schneider open to a potential ban for youngsters.
About 1,000 Swiss residents aged 16 and above were polled in the survey conducted between December 1 and 12.
Austria decided to pursue a ban on social media use for children under 14.
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