Global Push to Regulate Teen Social Media Use Intensifies
Multiple countries are implementing measures to bar teenagers from social media, prompting U.S. experts to call domestic regulation "inevitable." This growing global trend puts pressure on social and media app developers to proactively build for compliance with features like age verification, parental controls, and content gating.
- In the U.S., at least 17 states have enacted laws concerning minors' social media use, creating a complex legal landscape where some laws are in effect, some are legally challenged, and others are not yet implemented. A Supreme Court decision in July 2025 affirmed that states have a "compelling interest in protecting children," paving the way for more state-level regulation. - Specific state-level regulations vary widely; for example, a Virginia law effective January 1, 2026, limits users under 16 to one hour per day on social media platforms unless a parent consents to more time. In contrast, Utah requires parental consent for minors to have an account and restricts their use between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM. - Globally, Australia was the first country to enforce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, which started in December 2025. Other countries, including Denmark, France, and Malaysia, are pursuing similar bans with age cutoffs typically at 15 or 16 years old. - The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) requires platforms to provide a high level of privacy and safety for minors. In July 2025, the European Commission released guidelines that recommend platforms set minors' accounts to private by default and modify recommendation systems to reduce the risk of them encountering harmful content. - The United Kingdom's Online Safety Act, enforced from early 2025, legally requires digital platforms to implement robust content moderation and protect users from illegal and harmful material. The act gives the regulator, Ofcom, the power to fine companies up to 10% of their annual turnover for non-compliance. - These regulations are driven by growing concerns over the link between heavy social media use and rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents. However, critics argue that bans can be technically easy to circumvent and may infringe on free expression rights. - In response to these laws, some platforms are proactively adding features; for instance, Instagram has rolled out a restricted account mode for users between 13 and 15 in several regions, which requires parental consent to disable. - Some approaches focus on informing users rather than restricting access. Four U.S. states—California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York—have passed laws requiring social media apps to display warning labels to minor users about the potential mental health risks.
