A University of California, Irvine poll shows strong bipartisan support for stricter regulations on children’s use of digital technology.
“The most surprising thing for us is that Californians almost uniformly support tighter restrictions on children’s use of digital technologies, like smart phones, social media, and AI,” research scientist and lead author Kelli Dickerson told the Business Journal on Sept. 12.
“But at least in the case of AI, they don’t trust really anyone — not government, schools or tech companies — to set or enforce these regulations. So, there’s an important tension there.”
Adults are worried about the impacts of smartphones and social media on children’s learning and mental health, according to the researchers.
In addition to Dickerson, the survey’s authors are Gillian Hayes, the Kleist professor of informatics; and Candice Odgers, chancellor’s professor of psychology.
82% for Phone-Restriction Act
The survey asked 2,143 adults in California, including 870 parents and guardians of children under 18. Data was collected using a hybrid sampling approach that blended a probability sample from a California voter file with a non-probability sample from a large online panel. Data for the statewide survey was collected by the TrueDot marketing firm between May 27 and June 2.
The study found that 82% of Californians support the Phone-Free Schools Act, which requires public schools to adopt policies to restrict student smartphone use during school hours by July 2026.
Support crossed party lines, with 84% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats, and 80% of Independents backing the measure.
Other findings include:
– 73% of Californians surveyed support banning social media for children under 16, with supporters citing youth safety, well-being and the need to encourage more offline activities.
– While support for a social media ban was high, many Californians may not fully realize which platforms a ban may affect. For example, nearly half of Californians did not consider YouTube a form of social media, despite it being the most widely used platform among youth.
– 61% favor allowing generative AI in schools with clear guardrails. However, fewer than half of Californians expressed moderate to complete trust in local, state or federal government, or in technology companies, to make decisions about children and artificial intelligence.
‘Stronger Digital Safeguards’
“This research reveals a clear mandate from California families for stronger digital safeguards for children,” Dickerson said. “However, the findings also highlight critical challenges ahead – from confusion about what platforms would actually be regulated to a troubling lack of trust in any institution to effectively oversee these technologies.”
She acknowledged that young people will need many of those tech tools in their future lives. “Blanket” restrictions may not be helpful while any measures should be age-appropriate.
The report noted, for example, that 61% of California adults support allowing generative AI in schools with limits and oversight.
Many schools in California are already experimenting with smartphone restrictions or bans, Dickerson said. In addition, many parents are interested in “encouraging more off-line opportunities.”
The study was produced by CERES (Connecting the EdTech Research EcoSystem) and UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology.
“With our next project we’re really realizing that we need a better understanding of what children are actually doing with AI technologies, how they’re integrating these tools,” according to Dickerson.
