The Digital Landscape and the Debate Over Social Media for Minors
In today’s world, children are growing up surrounded by digital experiences that shape their lives in ways previously unimaginable. From viral trends to artificial intelligence, the online world has become an integral part of childhood. However, this rapid digital evolution has raised concerns about the impact of excessive screen time and the negative effects of social media on young minds.
Governments around the globe are now considering stricter regulations to protect minors from the harmful consequences of social media. Australia made history by becoming the first country to enforce a social media ban for under-16s. This law restricts children from creating accounts on major platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Following this move, several European countries have begun discussing similar measures, with Austria recently considering a national ban for those under 14.
The European Parliament has also proposed an EU-wide minimum age of 16 for independent access to social media and video-sharing platforms. This reflects a growing global awareness of the need to safeguard young people from the potential dangers of online spaces.
A Growing Concern for Mental Health
The World Health Organization has warned of a rising mental health crisis among Europe’s children and teenagers. Cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and the pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards are just some of the issues that have sparked calls for more extreme restrictions. In the United States, a landmark ruling against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, highlighted how these platforms may knowingly harm children’s mental health by exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Despite these concerns, there are differing opinions on the best way to address the issue. Some argue that an outright ban is not the solution, pointing out that age verification systems are often flawed. They fear that such measures could push children toward more dangerous, unregulated corners of the internet. However, both sides of the debate largely agree that the fundamental design of social media—built around addictive algorithms—needs to change.
Perspectives Across Europe
As various countries prepare to implement their own restrictions, Next spoke to locals across European cities to understand their views on a social media ban for minors.
France
Margot, a 26-year-old from Lyon, who grew up with social media, acknowledges its harms but believes an outright ban is not the answer. “Most of my friends and myself suffered a lot from stuff we weren’t supposed to see or online bullying,” she said. She emphasized the importance of parental and school education in helping children navigate the online world responsibly.
On the other hand, Hanif Ibrahim, a 26-year-old student in Lyon, sees a social media ban as a “net positive” but warns that it could leave minors lacking in digital literacy. He believes that children should gradually learn how to use social media to become responsible users in the future.
Belgium
In Belgium, current legislation requires children to be at least 13 to create a social media account, but discussions are ongoing about raising the age to 15. Alexandra Barilova, a resident of Brussels, supports a ban, stating that social media has a significant impact on teenagers’ mental well-being. Sorengo Guie, a nurse in Brussels, is particularly concerned about the mental health effects on young people, noting the increasing number of cases of depression linked to online harassment.
United Kingdom
Tyler, a 27-year-old retail worker in London, believes that banning social media is not effective, as children can easily bypass restrictions using tools like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). He argues that stricter regulation should come from the platforms themselves rather than government intervention.
The UK government is currently trialing a social media ban on 300 teenagers, alongside a public consultation on protecting minors online. Taylor, who supports stricter regulation, believes that social media companies should take responsibility for self-regulation.
Portugal
In February, Portugal approved a bill to restrict free access to social media for under-16s, requiring verified consent from a parent or guardian. A woman in Lisbon, who struggles with monitoring her children’s screen time, supports the ban, citing the harmful effects of social media on developing brains. Another man in Lisbon expressed concerns about the manipulation and loss of identity that social media can cause.
Additional interviews by:
Gunel Huseynova, Mohammad Shayan Ahmad, Anushka Roy, Ricardo Figueira, Juan Isidro Montero and Christina Thykjaer.
