The Reuters/Ipsos online poll of 4,505 U.S. adults (±2 points) finds 61% of Americans favor stronger oversight of social media companies and 66% support age-verification to block users under 16. Support is bipartisan, with 71% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans backing tougher rules. The results come as Meta faces lawsuits and a New Mexico court ordered a $567 million payment related to teen mental health.
Majority Of Americans Back Stronger Social Media Oversight, Poll Shows
Social media apps are displayed on a mobile phone
A bipartisan majority of Americans want tougher government rules governing social media companies, including laws that would require age-verification to keep younger children off platforms, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The online survey of 4,505 U.S. adults, conducted over the six days ending Aug. 3, found 61% of respondents overall support stronger oversight of social media companies. Support was broad across parties: 71% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans backed tougher rules, while independents were more likely to be unsure.
Two-thirds (66%) of respondents favored laws requiring platforms to use age-verification tools to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services. Backing for that idea was highest among Republicans (74%) and remained strong among Democrats (69%).
Context: Legal Pressure On Tech Firms
The poll comes as major tech firms face mounting legal scrutiny over the effects of their products on young people. State prosecutors allege that Meta designed features that can be addictive for younger users; Meta denies those claims and says it could face up to $1.4 trillion in penalties if states prevail.
Separately, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and to change how its platforms function for young users after finding the company contributed to harm to children's well-being.
Voices From Voters
"Somebody's got to do it," said James Bosserdet, a 60-year-old mechanical engineer from Tennessee who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, referring to restrictions on kids' social media use. "Is it the government's job? I don't want it to be. I think maybe it should be."
Other respondents echoed concerns about addictive features and mental health: 85% of poll participants said social media can be addictive for children, and a similar share said its use can harm youngsters' mental health. At the same time, many Americans said they enjoy the platforms—70% said time on social media is fun—though 52% said they spend too much time on them.
The Reuters/Ipsos online poll has a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.
What’s Next
Lawmakers in more than a dozen states have passed laws restricting minors' access to social apps, while trade groups such as NetChoice—backed by Meta, TikTok and Snap—have challenged age-verification mandates in court on free-speech grounds. Meanwhile, U.S. Congress has not yet passed comprehensive federal legislation aimed specifically at protecting children online.
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