New York, NY, [May 25, 2026] – According to the latest national public opinion poll from BrainGroup Global, America is a nation in doubt except when it comes to concern for their children and the effects that social media, screen technology and AI are having on their well-being. This sentiment supports the announcement last week by the US Surgeon General’s office.
The announcement was a warning about the dangers of long screen time for youth, connecting excessive hours online to an array of potential problems including anxiety, depression, alcohol use and suicide.
This guideline is broadly supported by American adults ages 18-75, as 89% believe that parents should limit screen time and 50% say so with strong certainty, as measured by their fast, certain response to agreement. Unlike many issues that divide the country by party lines, this conviction is shared equally by Republicans (89% total yes/49% firm yes) and Democrats (91% total yes/50% firm yes).
The country also sees a link between social media and mental health problems among youth, but with less clarity. (72% agree/ 31% answer with a fast, firm yes.)
BrainGroup Global’s “America In The Age of Uncertainty” study uses iCode, an AI advanced reaction-time technology to expose the true depth of American ambivalence on education, technology, politics and other major issues facing us today.
“In a country that is divided and uncertain regarding the war in Iran, the potential to invade other nations and tariffs, we come together over protecting our next generation. Many parents feel that their children are being lost to a world that is decreasingly human, robbing them of their abilities to interact socially and causing loneliness, depression and despair. ”
Elissa Moses, CEO of BrainGroup Global
What Keeps Us Engaged with Social Media?
Part of the tug of war over kids and social media viewing is the dilemma that adults face themselves perceiving that “Social media is addictive” (78% agree and 51% feel certain). Yet part of the issue for adults and children alike is that “Social media is fun!” This makes social media hard to restrict and even harder to walk away from completely. (67% agree and 37% agree firmly.) Social media is also relied upon to make people feel more connected, (62% agree, 25% firm agreement) and perhaps less lonely, despite criticism that it prevents many from having adequate face-to-face interactions.
“We have seen similar sentiment regarding the danger of excess screen time, expressed in other European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. It is rapidly becoming a ubiquitous concern. Our parents from previous generations used various ploys to lure us back in from the yard, but today we must use even fancier tricks just to get the kids out of their rooms.”
Rafal Ohme, Founder and CEO, iCode
Ambivalence Over AI
When it comes to our nation’s perspective on AI, the results are conflicted. First of all, the majority of Americans say they “are not afraid of AI” (only 34% yes and 13% with a firm yes). Few are seriously concerned that “AI will take my job” (29% total yes, 15% firm yes). The potential for AI to improve their children’s future, or detract from it, creates ambivalence.
Adults suppose that students need to know how to use AI to compete in the future with 66% total agreement, but only 18% express this opinion with any certainty. However, they may not want their children to lose the human touch in the classroom. At least on the surface, America feels that “Human teachers can share wisdom that AI never will” (81% agree, but only 22% are certain.) Further with respect to having real people as teachers, 87% agree that “Some teaching should remain human-led, no matter what”, despite only 23% feeling certain.
In sum, the study results indicate that Americans are deeply concerned about the new technological world order, and particularly social media, in the shape of potential damage it may be reaping on their children and the quality of all our lives going forward. The step taken recently by the Surgeon General’s Office to recommend limiting screen time for minors is likely to be a welcomed message across the country and prove to be a unifying gesture for making Americans feel more hopeful and in control.
BrainGroup Global partners with iCode for its leading edge reaction time research and methodology that represents a significant advance for all types of online survey questions used in polling, market research, and public policy analysis. By enabling us to differentiate conviction and uncertainty within answers, it offers a more accurate and predictive lens on public sentiment than traditional survey methods alone.
About BrainGroup Global
BrainGroup Global is a behavioral science and technology based research and strategy company specializing in consumer and public sentiment, cultural trends, brand strategy, age cohort targeting (Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers), technology adoption, and behavioral change.
Founder and CEO, Elissa Moses is a recognized pioneer in applied behavioral science and neuro tools for understanding emotional response and predicting behavior. She was formerly CEO of Ipsos Neuro and Behavioral Science, SVP of Philips Global Consumer Intelligence and a Managing Partner at Grey Worldwide. Elissa has an AB in Human Behavior from the University of Chicago and an MS in Technology Management from Columbia University, where she has also been a faculty member. Linkedin.
About iCode
iCode is a proprietary methodology that unlocks the “Say-Do Gap” among consumers and citizens through advanced neuro-cognitive algorithms. Founded by Professor Rafal Ohme, iCode bridges cutting-edge neuroscience and practical market intelligence. An expert in consumer neuroscience, Professor Rafal Ohme is Honorary Professor at the School of Business at Stellenbosch University, a Fulbright Scholar at Kellogg School of Management, EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, and author of ‘Emo Sapiens – Harmony of Feeling and Thinking’. He writes for Forbes. For more information about iCode, visit its website and LinkedIn.
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