Exploring education, youth wellbeing, and digital Life
Aotearoa / New Zealand, 3 October 2025 - Ipsos, one of the world's leading market research companies, announces the findings of a new study looking at people’s attitudes to education and the lives of young people.
The 31-country study revealed that 44% of New Zealanders surveyed believe mental health is the biggest challenge facing young people today – significantly higher than the 30-country global average of 33%. While this mental health challenge is higher than the global average, the 72% of New Zealanders agree that social media should be banned for children under 14 years old is in line with other regions. New Zealanders' views on the quality of our education system are mixed, with slightly more (37%) saying it's 'good' compared to 32% saying it’s ‘poor’.
The key findings of the Ipsos Education Monitor 2025 are listed below. More details can be viewed in the report and in the press release.
Mental health identified as the biggest challenge facing young people today.
Widespread support for banning under-14s from social media.
New Zealanders’ views on the quality of our education system are mixed.
Smart phone ban in schools seen to have had a positive impact.
New Zealanders pessimistic about AI in education.
Gender divide on preferred school subjects persists.
Carin Hercock, Country Manager, Ipsos New Zealand, said: “New Zealanders are much more likely than the global average to be concerned about the challenges facing our young people’s mental health, and bullying and peer pressure, than the global average which is potentially a key driver behind the significant support for a ban on social media for children under 14.”
Amanda Dudding, Executive Director Public Affairs, Ipsos New Zealand, added: “High levels of reservation continue around the usage of AI in New Zealand with a large proportion of the population against the use of AI in schools and New Zealanders more likely to think that advances in AI will have a more negative than positive impact”
If you have any questions about the Ipsos New Zealand Education Monitor or would like to discuss how these findings might impact your organisation and its customers, please contact Carin Hercock.
