The majority of Poles expect clear restrictions on social media - both with regard to adults and children - according to our latest nationwide CATI survey, conducted on 20-24 April 2026 by the Laboratory of Media Studies at the University of Warsaw in cooperation with the Institute of Journalism, Media and Social Communication at the Jagiellonian University.
The study involved 4,530 adult respondents.
The report is now available in English! We encourage you to explore the findings and expert commentary.
Key findings:
Do you ever block or remove content on social media that you consider harmful?
45% of respondents declare that they often or sometimes block or remove content they consider harmful. 14% do so rarely, while 17% never do so. At the same time, 21% of respondents report that they do not use social media at all. This means that among social media users, approximately half actively respond to harmful content, while a substantial proportion remain passive in this respect.
If a minimum age for having a social media account were introduced in Poland, what age would you consider appropriate?
The most frequently indicated minimum age is 16, selected by 31% of respondents. A further 20% would set the threshold at 18, while 23% indicated 15 years of age. In practical terms, 51% of Poles support a minimum age of at least 16, while 74% support a threshold of at least 15. Only 4% believe that there should be no age limit.
In Polish schools, students’ use of smartphones should be…
44% of respondents support a complete ban on smartphone use both during lessons and breaks, while a further 18% favour a ban limited to lessons. 32% would prefer schools to be able to establish their own rules. Overall, 62% of Poles support a system-wide ban on smartphone use at least during lessons, while 94% support some form of restriction on smartphone use in schools. Only a very small proportion of respondents support unrestricted use.
Do you support the introduction of financial penalties for publicly humiliating other people on social media?
A particularly strong social consensus is visible on this issue. 77% of Poles support the introduction of financial penalties for publicly humiliating others on social media, including 63% who answered definitely “yes”. Only 12% oppose such a solution, while 11% do not have a clear opinion.
Do you support the introduction of regulations restricting parents from publishing photographs or videos of children under the age of 16 on social media?
65% of Poles support legal restrictions on so-called sharenting, that is, the publication by parents of photographs and videos featuring children under the age of 16 on social media. 19% oppose such regulations, while 16% do not have a clearly defined position. This question recorded the highest proportion of undecided respondents, which may indicate that, for some respondents, the issue of legal interference in parental decisions is more complex.
The survey results indicate that the majority of Poles support stronger protection for social media users, particularly children and young people. This applies both to age restrictions and smartphone use in schools, as well as to measures aimed at preventing online humiliation and protecting children’s image and privacy.
We encourage you to read the full report with expert commentary.
 Raport_CATI26_PL.pdf |
| Report_CATI26_EN.pdf |