KATHMANDU:Countries including France and the United Kingdom are considering following Australia’s lead by restricting children and some teenagers from using major social media platforms, amid ongoing debate over the move’s effectiveness.
Supporters argue that action is needed to address worsening mental health among young people, while critics say evidence is inconclusive and call for a more nuanced approach.
Australia last month became the first country to ban people under 16 from using popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. France is currently discussing similar bills targeting under-15s, including proposals backed by President Emmanuel Macron.
The Guardian reported that American psychologist Jonathan Haidt, a supporter of the Australian ban, has advised UK government officials. In his 2024 bestseller The Anxious Generation, Haidt argued that excessive screen time, especially on social media, “rewires children’s brains and causes an epidemic of mental illness.”
While influential among politicians, Haidt’s views have sparked controversy in academic circles. Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers called the book’s claims a “scary story” that is “not supported by science.”
Experts disagree on how much social media use actually affects young people’s mental health. Michael Noetel of the University of Queensland said, “Small effects across billions of users add up,” pointing to significant evidence that social media can harm adolescents. He described a potential ban as “a bet worth making,” though he cautioned that Haidt’s book overstates the case.
France’s public health watchdog ANSES recently concluded that social media has numerous negative effects on adolescents—particularly girls—though it is not the sole factor in declining mental health.
Research highlights the complexity of the issue. Noetel’s team reviewed over 100 studies worldwide and found a vicious cycle: excessive screen time, including social media and gaming, is linked to emotional problems, which then drive further screen use.
Other researchers caution against blanket bans. Ben Singh from the University of Adelaide studied over 100,000 young Australians for three years and found that teens who used social media moderately had the best wellbeing, while both heavy use and total deprivation posed risks. Girls suffered most from excessive use, while boys were more affected by complete restriction in later teens.
French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron called social media “appallingly toxic” but warned that a ban could be easily bypassed by tech-savvy teens, while letting parents off the hook. He urged for measured regulation rather than an all-or-nothing approach.
Some experts suggest observing Australia’s experiment before making broad policy changes. Cambridge University researcher Amy Orben said, “Within a year, we should know much more about how effective the Australian social media ban has been and whether it led to any unintended consequences.”
Australia’s online safety watchdog reported last week that tech companies have already blocked 4.7 million accounts for users under 16.
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