Recently, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the government would propose a draft law by the end of the year to set minimum age limits for social media use, launching the legislative process. Australia’s initiative is not an isolated case. As the trend of younger social media users grows and its negative impacts become more apparent, many countries and regions are considering restricting the time and age limits for minors using electronic devices or social media platforms. However, these measures have not always achieved the desired results. Some experts suggest that managing social media should be like managing water, advocating a strategy of “guiding rather than blocking.”
Parents’ Concerns Over Addictive Social Media Use
Eleven-year-old Benny, a first-year middle school student in Hamburg, Germany, spends at least 3 to 4 hours a day on social media. His mother, Claudia, expressed frustration over how social media has become central to his life. Each morning, Benny’s first task is checking updates and messages on social media. He enjoys taking photos and videos to upload online and often spends his after-school time watching videos and playing games, even skipping meals and avoiding conversations with his parents.
Claudia recalls that it was once common for children under 14 in Germany to go to bed early, but this is no longer the case. As a mother, her biggest concern is the potential dangers associated with social media addiction. Benny once participated in an online challenge, attempting to jump from a high wall to a rooftop platform, resulting in an injury that required a two-week hospital stay. Claudia admits that while she checks her son’s social media activity daily, her actions are met with resentment.
What Benny has experienced is happening to teenagers in many countries. The widespread use of social media and the latest trend of younger users have become significant concerns. A study released by Germany’s Information Technology, Telecommunications, and New Media Association in August 2024 found that 93% of German youth aged 10 and above use social media, spending an average of 95 minutes per day on these platforms. Additionally, 33% of respondents said they could not imagine living without social media. Similarly, a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2023 revealed that 95% of American minors aged 13 to 17 were active on social media, with over one-third reporting they were “almost always online.”
In France, a 2023 survey by the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL) revealed that the average age for children to create their first social media account was around 8.5 years. Meanwhile, a report by The Guardian in April 2024 found that 38% of children aged 5 to 7 in the UK were using social media. In a survey of 32,000 children aged 7 to 11 in Wales, nearly half reported using social media several times a week or daily.
A 2024 World Health Organization report titled “Adolescent Social Media Use and Gaming in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada” found that the proportion of teenagers experiencing social media-related problems increased from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. Additionally, 12% of teenagers were at risk of gaming addiction. In 2022, 11% of adolescents exhibited signs of problematic social media use, struggling to control their behavior and facing negative consequences, up from 7% in 2018.
The Negative Effects of Social Media on Adolescents
While social media can help expand teenagers’ horizons, enrich their social circles, and enhance communication skills, many experts believe that overuse can harm the mental and physical health of minors. The Singapore newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported that social media can cause anxiety, disrupt sleep patterns, and lead to unhealthy comparisons that lower self-esteem, with these effects particularly pronounced among teenage girls. Other long-term impacts include eating disorders and persistent depression. Research shows that teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social media are at a higher risk of developing mental health issues such as depression, with their risk doubling. Additionally, children may face online bullying while using social media.
Journalists have discovered that some social media influencers often promote dangerous and extreme challenges, such as stealing safety signs, damaging public property, performing reckless stunts with vehicles, or deliberately smashing products in stores. In one instance, young people were seen harassing homeless individuals in the New York subway, likely recording the incident to post it online for attention. These users often label themselves as “comedians.”
Age Restrictions and Algorithm Bans
To protect minors, many mainstream social media platforms and countries have implemented age restrictions. Most major platforms prohibit children under the age of 13 from registering and using their services. In 2023, France passed a law requiring social media companies to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for users under 15. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 1% of the company’s global sales.
Spain has enacted similar measures, banning children under 14 from independently registering for social media accounts and requiring parental or guardian consent for minors to access information services. Social media companies must also ensure, where technically feasible, that the consent is genuine. Australia and the UK are considering similar steps. In October 2023, Australian Prime Minister Albanese sent a letter to local officials asking for their help in setting a minimum age for social media use. The UK’s Secretary of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Michelle Donelan, expressed openness to introducing similar restrictions in Britain. Germany’s largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group, has also called for such measures, with European digital policy spokesman Andreas Brändle telling Die Welt, “I believe age restrictions like those in France are necessary… Legal enforcement is needed to ensure that social media platforms maintain a minimum age of 13.”
In the United States, several states have begun pushing legislation to make it more difficult for minors to access social media. In March 2023, Utah became the first state to pass laws restricting minors’ use of social media. The bills (SB152 and HB311), signed by Governor Spencer Cox, require parental consent before minors under 18 can register on social media platforms, allow parents full access to their children’s accounts, and enforce curfews, prohibiting minors from using social media between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. These laws were set to take effect on March 1, 2024, but were delayed to October 2024. However, in December 2023, industry groups like “NetChoice,” representing companies such as Meta and Alphabet, sued Utah in federal court, arguing that the laws were unconstitutional, ultimately halting the legislation. Similar laws in Arkansas and Ohio have faced the same challenges.
One of the main reasons for social media addiction is the use of algorithms that recommend videos and products to users, often considered a major factor harming minors’ mental health. The EU‘s Digital Services Act bans social media from targeting children with personalized ads, and platforms are required to remind teenagers to take breaks and disable auto-play. In 2023, India passed the Personal Data Protection Act, which requires parental consent before social media companies can collect children’s data and prohibits targeted ads for minors. In Brazil, the Data Protection Law emphasizes special protections for children’s data, including consent to share personal information.
Efforts to Limit Screen Time and Encourage Healthy Social Media Use
Several countries plan to reduce the amount of time teenagers spend on social media. Starting in autumn 2024, France introduced a program called “Digital Pause,” requiring students at 180 middle schools, covering over 50,000 students aged 11 to 15, to hand in their phones upon entering school. This trial program is currently being implemented and may be expanded nationwide by 2025.
Experts suggest that social media platforms should create dedicated spaces for teenagers with content tailored to their interests and needs, helping them develop healthy usage habits. Simply creating “youth modes” on platforms is not enough. For this feature to be effective, it should be designed with teenagers in mind, offering engaging, positive content and encouraging participation in content creation, fostering media literacy, and enriching the online space with positive content.
Ultimately, while concerns about social media are valid, some experts argue that social media use should be viewed as a skill that teenagers need to develop, akin to learning how to manage television use in previous generations. By guiding teenagers in using these digital tools safely and responsibly, they can better navigate the digital world and prepare for future challenges.
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