Voters Back Some Digital Blue Laws for Minors but Not Others

As debates over minors’ digital safety continue in state legislatures and Congress, a Change Research national survey of 2,006 registered voters, conducted July 13–17, 2026, finds broad support for laws that would block minors’ access to online pornography, while proposals to restrict social media use by time of day or day of the week draw more divided or negative responses. Support for each restriction falls substantially when extended to users of all ages.

Blocking Pornography

The survey finds 75% of voters support laws blocking online pornography access for users under 18, with 19% opposed. The restriction is the most broadly backed of the three, with majority support across all parties and age groups.

69% of Democrats, 73% of pure independents, and 82% of Republicans back the under-18 restriction. 67% of voters aged 18 to 34 support the restriction, compared to 70% of voters 35 to 49, 80% of voters 50 to 64, and 83% of voters 65 and older.

Fifty percent of respondents favor blocking access to online pornography for people all ages, with 44% opposed. On this question, the partisan gap widens: 38% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans back an all-age pornography restriction, compared to 48% of pure independents.

Social Media Curfews

A proposed “curfew” that would block minors’ social media access between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM divides voters nearly in half: 48% would support such an approach and 44% would oppose it. Support is higher among Republicans at 57%, compared to 41% among Democrats and 41% among pure independents.

Among voters 18 to 34, 38% would support the under-18 curfew, with 54% opposed. Support rises to 48% among voters 35 to 49, to 56% among voters 50 to 64, and then falls slightly to 50% among voters 65 and older.

Asked about a similar curfew applied to users of all ages, opposition deepens: support falls to 19% overall, with 74% opposed.

Sunday Bans

A proposed Sunday social media ban for users under 18 is opposed by majorities across all groups, with 25% in support and 65% opposed. Republicans back it at 33%; 23% of pure independents and 17% of Democrats would back a Sunday social media ban.

Unlike the other two proposals, the Sunday ban finds almost no age variation in total support. Support would stand at 24% among voters 18 to 34, 26% among voters 35 to 49, 25% among voters 50 to 64, and 25% among voters 65 and older. Voters 18 to 34 are more likely to hold firm views on both sides, with higher rates of both strong support and strong opposition than older age groups.

Support for a Sunday social media ban for everyone stands at 15%, with 77% opposed.

Methodology

Change Research conducted this survey of 2,006 registered voters from July 13–17, 2026. The modeled margin of error is ±2.3%.