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Would you wear smart glasses?

7th - 14th September 2026

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11010

5-11 votes

47756

11-16+ votes

58767

Total votes

June 2026 saw the release of Meta's latest smart glasses. Featuring speakers, camera, processor and microphone, they let users take photos and video hands-free and interact with an AI assistant in real-time based on the glasses’ visual feed. Meta’s top-of-the-range model even has an in-built display, allowing users to view messages and other content entirely through the glasses. Mark Zuckerberg sees a future where these glasses have replaced smartphones, as they have all the same benefits while allowing users to be present in the moment. Supporters also see them as game-changing for Disabled people’s independence. Not everyone agrees. Critics have major privacy concerns about the on-board camera allowing users to film others without their knowledge; there have already been reports of people covertly filmed in public for social media content. Though the glasses have an LED that blinks during any filming, sceptics say it is not reliable and often hard to see. So, through which lens do the always-online generation see smart glasses?

Primary voters 5-11 were asked, "Should people wear smart glasses?"

Secondary, 16+ & College voters debated, "Would you wear smart glasses?"

58,767 young people took part in this vote, with more participating in classroom discussions across the country.

Under-16s Phones Child

Age 5-11 voter

Yes but I think they should add more rules to make them safer and make people more aware of smart glasses.

Under-16s Phone Teenager

Age 11-16 voter

We did like translation and helping Disabled people [...] We believe that they should be used for people who genuinely need this sort of help.

Under-16s Phones Student

Age 11-16 voter

While we can see the benefits of smart glasses for impaired people, we can also see the dangers for people being filmed in the street, in public places and in private situations where they should be able to rely on confidentiality.

Feedback from our impact partners...

Thank you to Leanda Barrington-Leach from 5Rights Foundation for responding to young people's views on this VoteTopic!

“If we want to understand how young people experience the digital environment, the challenges they face, their concerns and priorities, we must start by listening to what they have to say. At 5Rights this principle is central to our work and, it is great to see so many children getting involved, engaging in this conversation and making their voices heard.

Technology must be designed with children’s best interests in mind, by default and by design. Smart glasses bring the digital environment even closer to children’s everyday lives and while there are opportunities, the risks are obvious. We need to think carefully about what this means for their safety, privacy, agency, development and participation, and ultimately, what we want childhood to look like."

Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director of 5Rights Foundation

Voters of all ages were divided on the topic. 52.4% of Primary pupils voted people should wear the glasses - the most supportive of any age group.

  • Younger pupils were most likely to support wearing smart glasses. The 'Yes' vote declined steadily amongst older age groups.
  • Pupils argued that the glasses would be useful for foreign travel and that they might help Disabled People be more independent in everday life.
  • Some voters were concerned about people photographing or filming people without their consent.
  • 'No' voters also thought that there could be risks to eye health.
52.6% of Secondary voters said that they would not wear smart glasses themselves.

  • Again, voters were highly divided at Secondary.
  • 'No' arguments centred on privacy, consent and safety. Many were uncomfortable at the thought of being filmed unawares and shared concerns about being tracked via the devices.
  • 'Yes' voters discussed the benefits to the Disabled community, as well as echoing many arguments of their younger peers such as foreign travel support and educational benefits.
Girls were much less favourable towards smart glasses, being over 1.8x more likely to vote 'No' than their male peers.

  • At all ages, girls voted 'No' to a greater degree than boys.
  • This gender split was most pronounced at Secondary level, with 63% of boys voting that they would wear smart glasses, compared to just 30% of girls.
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