The 2026 Children and Young People’s Survey in Jersey is scheduled to launch in October, introducing questions on social media usage and generative AI for the first time. Organized by Statistics Jersey, the voluntary and anonymous online questionnaire will be available to students from Year 4 through Year 12 between October 5 and October 16.
Chief statistician Ian Cope described the survey as providing a “vital insight” into the lives of young people on the island. He emphasized that the inclusion of new questions regarding social media apps, artificial intelligence tools, caring responsibilities, and food security will help paint a more comprehensive picture of the opportunities and challenges facing today’s youth.
Cope noted that the survey content was developed in direct collaboration with students this year to ensure it reflected the issues most relevant to them. The findings will be utilized across the Government of Jersey to inform policy decisions and enhance public services.
The final report, along with a child-friendly summary for schools, is expected to be published in Spring 2027. Statistics Jersey highlighted that the previous iteration of the survey in 2024 achieved strong engagement, with 4,360 children participating. Response rates for that survey ranged from 78% among Year 12 students to 87% among those in Years 4 and 8.
Hope they protect anonymity well. Kids won’t be honest if they fear being identified.
AI questions are timely. Most surveys still ignore how much kids actually use these tools.
When will we see data comparing Jersey’s youth to the rest of the UK?
Is this really necessary? My teens are fine without government surveys about TikTok.
Glad they asked the kids what matters to them. That student collaboration part is refreshing.