Khaberni - A recent study has shown widespread concern among Jordanians regarding the use of social media and artificial intelligence by children, along with a clear societal consensus on the need for legal controls and preventive measures to protect children in the digital space.
The quantitative study, announced on Wednesday in conjunction with the global Safe Internet Day, reveals that 90% of participants support the enactment of legislation restricting access to social media for children aged 15 and younger. The support for regulating children’s usage of artificial intelligence tools reaches 87%, reflecting a general consensus on the need for formal regulatory frameworks to protect children in digital environments.
The study data, conducted by the "Analysis" institution for studies and research, was collected during the period from December 20, 2025, to January 10, 2026, covering all provinces of the kingdom with a sample size of 1471 respondents.
Gap
The study results show a clear gap between generations in understanding digital risks and prioritizing them.
According to the study, adults, particularly parents, focus on external and behavioral risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, exploitation or harassment online, and addiction to digital platforms.
According to the study, children and teenagers show greater interest in the psychological dimensions, including the impact of social media on self-image, declining self-confidence due to social comparisons, and the stress associated with constant online presence. These differences reflect that adults and children do not experience the digital world in the same way, nor do they assess its impacts from the same perspective.
The study indicated that 88% of the participants see that children under the age of twelve are not capable of using social media safely, while 86% expressed their refusal for children aged 15 and under to use these platforms without supervision.
Teenage phase
The results also indicate widespread agreement that independent use of social media should not begin before mid to late adolescence, with age seventeen emerging as the most acceptable age.
The study reveals high levels of concern about children being exposed to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and social isolation.
85% of study participants expressed concern that using social media might weaken direct relationships or increase social isolation. When asked about the top three risks, exposure to inappropriate content topped the list, followed by exploitation or harassment online, and then addiction to phones and social media.
Simultaneously, more than 80% of participants expressed concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on children's learning and decision-making abilities, while 81% said they were worried that the use of artificial intelligence might reduce real-life interaction or increase social isolation. As with social media, adults exhibited higher levels of concern across most risk indicators, reinforcing the presence of an age gap in assessing the impacts of digital technologies.
Artificial intelligence
Conversely, the study reveals actual and increasing use of artificial intelligence, not limited to education, work, and entertainment.
47% of participants reported using it to search for information related to physical or mental health, 37% turned to it for advice or emotional support or personal counseling, while 23% used it to express feelings they are uncomfortable sharing with others.
Usage is particularly concentrated among younger age groups, with 40% of youth aged 15 to 24 years indicating they used artificial intelligence to express their feelings, compared to only 7% among those aged 55 years and older, indicating a shift towards artificial intelligence as a private space for psychological support among a segment of the youth.
The results also reveal a clear perception of responsibility, with the majority of participants viewing parents and schools as primarily responsible for protecting children digitally, alongside a central role expected from schools in offering digital awareness programs. Participants showed broad support for practical preventive measures, including setting limits on social media usage time and restricting the type of content accessible to children.
This quantitative study represents the first national assessment in Jordan of public opinion trends regarding children's use of social media and artificial intelligence technologies.
The study was conducted in a context characterized by rising global concern and regulatory discussions related to children's protection in the digital space.
The results reveal high levels of concern regarding children’s exposure to digital risks, parallel to a broad and ongoing reliance on digital technologies that now fill gaps in human and institutional support.
The study results show that more than 80% of participants are concerned about children facing risks such as inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and social isolation through social media.
The views of participants also intersect regarding the digital autonomy of children, with 88% believing that children under twelve are not capable of safely using social media, while 86% think that children aged 15 and under should not be allowed to use these platforms independently.
Legal intervention enjoys very broad support, with more than 90% of participants supporting the enactment of legislation that restricts children aged 15 and under from accessing social media.
Support for regulating children’s use of artificial intelligence tools is also high, with an endorsement rate of 87%, indicating wide societal agreement on the need for formal regulatory frameworks to protect children in digital environments.
The study also reveals a clear perception of responsibility, with parents and schools widely viewed as the main entities responsible for protecting children online.
At the same time, significant concern comes with high levels of digital usage. Teenagers, despite recognizing digital risks, continue to use social media and artificial intelligence tools extensively.
Adults, despite expressing significant concern, often allow or facilitate this usage due to educational requirements, social pressures, or a sense of difficulty in reversing digital patterns that have become established, especially among older children. This contradiction reflects the deep penetration of digital technologies in daily life, even amid increasing awareness of the risks.
The results highlight a generational gap in perceiving the risks of social media. While adults focus on external risks such as exposure to harmful content, exploitation, or addiction, teenagers focus on internal, psychological risks including declining self-confidence linked to online social comparisons and impacts on mental health. These differences suggest that adults and teenagers do not always respond to the same experiences, nor do they prioritize the same risks.
Beyond risk perceptions, the study shows that the use of artificial intelligence has extended beyond the realms of education, work, and entertainment. Nearly half of the participants (47%) reported using artificial intelligence to search for information related to physical or mental health.
More than a third of participants (37) turned to artificial intelligence for emotional support or personal counseling, while about a quarter of the youth reported using it for venting or expressing feelings they are uncomfortable sharing with others. These patterns indicate that artificial intelligence has become an increasingly important and accessible source of information and support, particularly among younger demographics.
Despite varying regulatory and policy responses globally, the fundamental challenges associated with protecting children digitally are not confined to specific geographical contexts. Children and teenagers in Jordan are exposed to the same platforms, content, and algorithmic systems, and the digital dynamics that have sparked regulatory debates in other countries. By framing these issues within national data, this study aims to enhance public understanding and contribute to a more informed local dialogue about technology and digital safety in Jordan. It also provides a basis for further research and discussion at a time when shared digital risks are increasing, but are still not universally understood. Along with documenting public opinion trends, this study is designed to support an informed dialogue among families, institutions, media, and policymakers, at a moment that requires deeper awareness of the complexities of the digital landscape.
