Survey for Jersey children to include social media for first time

by | Oct 1, 2026 | Health

Survey for Jersey children to include social media for first time

Statistics Jersey announced plans to conduct the 2026 Children and Young People’s Survey, a voluntary and anonymous assessment designed to gather data on various aspects of young people’s lives. The survey will be administered to students spanning Year 4 through Year 12 and is scheduled to take place from 5 to 16 October, with completion available through an online platform.

The survey represents a significant expansion in scope compared to previous iterations, as it will ask participants about their use of social media applications and generative AI tools for the first time. Beyond technology-related questions, the assessment will also examine whether young people have caring responsibilities and access to adequate food on a daily basis. Officials emphasized that content development involved direct collaboration with students to ensure the questions address issues most relevant to their experiences.

Statistics Jersey indicated that findings from the survey will inform government policy decisions and guide improvements to public services across the island. Ian Cope, the chief statistician, described the initiative as providing crucial understanding of children and young people’s circumstances. The organization noted that the previous survey, conducted in 2024, achieved substantial participation rates, with response levels reaching 87% for Years 4 and 8, 84% for Years 6 and 10, and 78% for Year 12, encompassing 4,360 children in total.

The comprehensive results from this year’s survey are expected to be released in Spring 2027, with officials planning to produce a child-friendly version suitable for distribution in schools alongside the full report.

Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source

Article summary produced by Claude AI