Brexit regret kicks in

As the early implications of Thursday's historic referendum became clear, there was a buzz on social media as people shared the regrets of some of the 52% of Britons who voted to quit the union.

"It's a bit too soon to know what's going to happen but I have the feeling I made a mistake," 32-year-old Pam McVey told AFP as she celebrated London's Gay Pride this weekend.

"I'm a bit shocked, to be honest. I didn't think that was going to happen," said Adam, a young man interviewed on the BBC in a widely shared clip. "I didn't think my vote was going to matter too much because I thought we were going to remain.”

"The David Cameron resignation has blown me away to be honest. I think the period of uncertainty that we're going to have for the next couple of months, that's just been magnified now. So yeah, I'm quite worried," another responder said.

A few people have had the courage to admit that they were wrong, but the hashtags #regrexit and #BrexitRegret or #Bregret were trending on Twitter – used mostly to mock those who regretted their choice.

So #regrexit is a thing. Information was lacking, granted, but there has to be personal responsibility for such a level of ignorance.

— Dario Llinares (@dariodoubleL) June 25, 2016

Millions of voters be like "didn't think my vote would count" #REGREXIT https://t.co/nqtSm5JjgA pic.twitter.com/UpTqge0WiQ

— Charlotte Godziewski (@c_godziewski) June 25, 2016

Others had regrets that they had not voted in a referendum that will have far-reaching consequences.

"I didn't know we could vote," said Bianca Kostic-London, a 30-year-old Australian who would have been eligible because she is a citizen of the Commonwealth. She said she had cried when she realised.

"I said it was my fault," she said, hand on her chest. "I did feel very bad and disappointed."

On the other hand, according to various newsrooms, Google Trends revealed that the second top search in Britain on Friday, as the results rolled in, was "What is the EU?", indicating that many people were not as informed as they could have been.

For some of the regions who voted to leave, the result also prompted an urgent call for reassurance that the government in London would match any EU funds they might lose when Britain finally breaks off from the 38-country bloc.

The leader of Cornwall council said he was seeking "urgent steps" to ensure the underprivileged county in southwest England would be protected.

"We will be insisting that Cornwall receives investment equal to that provided by the EU programme which has averaged £60 million (€73 million) per year over the last 10 years," said John Pollard.

Similar appeals also came from Yorkshire in northern England, and from the first minister of Wales Carwyn Jones.

Wales and its three million population has benefited from more than £4 billion (€4.87 billion) since 2000 from EU structural funds.

Others on social media defended their decision, regardless of the consequences.

"I voted leave. If it turns out that it was the wrong decision in the future, I have the right to regret it," wrote one.