(MENAFN) Momentum is growing worldwide to curb children's access to social media, following Australia’s landmark decision to prohibit users under 16 from joining such platforms without parental approval. Lawmakers in several countries and U.S. states are advancing similar legislation amid increasing concerns over youth mental health and digital safety.

Governments in Italy, Spain, South Korea, and multiple U.S. states are drafting bills aimed at limiting minors’ access to platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

A global survey by Ipsos, titled Education Monitor 2025, revealed that 71% of respondents worldwide support banning social media for children under 14. Support was especially strong in Indonesia (87%), France (85%), Spain (84%), Colombia (82%), and Türkiye (76%), where public backing placed it 11th among surveyed countries.

The appetite for tighter restrictions extends into classrooms. The Ipsos survey found 55% of global participants favor banning smartphones in schools. Leading the charge is France with 80% support, followed by Ireland (70%), Spain (69%), Italy (67%), and Peru (65%). In contrast, only 53% of respondents in Türkiye agree with school smartphone bans.

Views were more mixed on the presence of artificial intelligence in education. When asked about tools like ChatGPT in school settings, 37% said AI should be banned, while 38% disagreed.

Mounting scientific evidence suggests heavy social media usage may be contributing to deteriorating youth mental health. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 2023 report on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, adolescents aged 10 to 19 are “undergoing a highly sensitive period of brain development.”

“Frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain in the amygdala (important for emotional learning and behavior) and the prefrontal cortex (important for impulse control, emotional regulation, and moderating social behavior), and could increase,” the advisory warned.

However, the report also acknowledged certain upsides to digital engagement: “The ability to form and maintain friendships online and develop social connections.”

“These relationships can afford opportunities to have positive interactions with more diverse peer groups than are available to them offline and can provide important social support to youth,” it added.

Further research from the University of California, San Francisco, published in May, tracked roughly 12,000 children over three years. It found that increased social media use among 9- to 10-year-olds was linked with rising symptoms of depression.

As digital platforms expand their reach, governments appear to be acting swiftly to strike a balance between connection and protection—especially for their youngest users.

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