Most Americans support stronger government oversight of social media companies, including mandatory age verification for users to limit children’s access to platforms. This is according to the results of a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

61% of respondents said social media needs stricter government oversight. This position was supported by 71% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans. Among independents, the level of support was lower.

At the same time, 66% of those surveyed favored laws requiring social media companies to use age-verification tools to prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms. Among Republicans, 74% supported such an initiative, while among Democrats the figure was 69%.

The poll was conducted amid growing pressure on technology companies over their impact on minors. More than a dozen U.S. states have already passed laws regulating children’s access to social media. However, the industry association NetChoice, whose members include Meta, TikTok, and Snap, is challenging such requirements in court, arguing that they violate the right to free speech.

85% of Americans believe that social media can be addictive for children. A comparable share of respondents also believe that its use can negatively affect minors’ mental health.

At the same time, social media itself remains popular: 70% of respondents said they enjoy spending time on such platforms, while 35% consider it a source of stress. 52% admitted they spend too much time on social media, whereas 43% disagreed.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online among 4,505 adult U.S. residents. The margin of error is about two percentage points.