Swiss back tougher social media rules for minors, survey finds

ZURICH, March 29 (Reuters) - The vast majority of Swiss want stronger protection for children and teenagers on social media, according to a survey published on Sunday, as governments and courts worldwide intensify scrutiny of Big Tech over its impact on young users.

On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found Meta META.O and Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google negligent for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people, in a verdict that will serve as a bellwether for numerous similar cases.

The Swiss study by polling firm GfS Bern for the Mercator Foundation found 94% of respondents felt minors should be better protected from the damaging effects of social media, while 78% believed large technology firms have too much influence over public opinion.

Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume‑Schneider has said she is open to a potential ban on social media for youngsters. Her government is drafting legislation to regulate major online platforms, aiming to make them more transparent.

The poll's publication in newspaper SonntagsZeitung follows a decision by neighbouring Austria on Friday to pursue a ban on social media use for children under 14.

The GfS Bern survey polled about 1,000 Swiss residents aged 16 and above between December 1 and 12. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points, the paper said.