Erase social media tomorrow? Brits say yes

Brits express a desire to erase social media in favor of a better society, according to a recent Opinium Research poll. Of the 2,000 adults surveyed, 7 percent believe social media is beneficial, while one in three think life would improve without it. The majority of respondents (42 percent) view social media as addictive, and half assert it has become worse for society since 2010.

The primary issues cited are the presence of false or misleading information, algorithms that curate divisive content, and commercialization. Some 49 percent of those polled utilize social media more frequently today than they did a decade ago, with a third relying heavily on it for consuming content rather than posting. A significant majority (70 percent) support imposing fines on social media companies that expose under-16s to harmful content.

The poll, not commissioned by any commercial or government entity, aims to spark discussion ahead of the release of Aaron Sorkin's film "The Social Reckoning," which portrays Mark Zuckerberg in an unfavorable light. The research comes amidst growing concerns over the impact of social media on public discourse, privacy, and politics, particularly in light of the 2016 Brexit vote and allegations of Russian interference.

Despite the negative sentiments, 49 percent of Brits still find social media indispensable for consuming content. As the use of social media continues to surge, with 55.5 million UK residents signed up as of 2021, some experts suggest a more restrictive approach to mitigate its deleterious effects.