Even teens are growing tired of social media

EVEN teenagers are sick of social media and two thirds would not mind if it had never been invented, a poll suggests.

Many are becoming disillusioned with the negative aspects of social media, such as online abuse and fake news.

Experts say a growing number are adopting ‘brick’ mobiles that only have rudimentary internet access to give them a break from Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

In the survey of 5,000 secondary school children, 63 per cent said they would not care if social media did not exist and 57 per cent said they had received abusive comments online. The poll of independent and state school pupils in England, by Digital Awareness UK, also found 56 per cent admitted to being ‘on the edge of addiction’ to social media.

The survey was presented in Belfast at the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, which represents top private schools. HMC said many teachers are now working with pupils to introduce phone-free days or sessions.