Social media and young people, young people and social media. As new platforms emerge and smartphones become near-ubiquitous, teenagers’ use of social media spirals out of control. According to research, over 93% of US teens use social media, with a further 70% addicted to the phenomenon. No wonder our parents are so worried.
With Australia recently making history with a ban on under-16s accessing social media, the world is poised for a wave of similar announcements. But which countries have already introduced measures to curb teenagers’ online habits? We’ve put together a list of all the nations that have moved to implement restrictions of some kind. And be sure to check back, as this list will be updated regularly.
Countries That Have Imposed Social Media Restrictions on Young People
United States
Federal laws pertaining to teens’ social media use are pretty modest. As per the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, under-13s need parental consent before they sign up to the likes of TikTok, Facebook, and X. More recently, the “Protecting Kids on Social Media Act” has mandated that social media platforms need to verify the age of account holders.
In terms of state restrictions, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law a bill to tackle social media addiction among teens. Set to take effect in 2027, the new law will prevent platforms including TikTok from tailoring content to children based on content that they have shared or what the algorithm has gleaned from them.
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Australia
In November 2024, Australia approved the banning of social media for under-16s. The move includes platforms such as TikTok, Twitter and Facebook, although YouTube sidestepped it as the video site was deemed educational.
Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, stated there was a “clear, causal link between the rise of social media and the harm [to] the mental health of young Australians.”
United Kingdom
Across the Atlantic, legislators passed the Online Safety Act in 2023. This landmark bill mandates tougher standards for social media platforms, including when it comes to age restrictions. The bill is expected to come into force from next year.
In the interim, policymakers have called for a clampdown on teens’ social media use. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, has claimed that an Australia-style ban for under-16s is “on the table,” promising to “do what it takes” to safeguard young people against the damaging effects of social media, BBC reports.
Norway
Norway recently announced its intention to raise its existing social media age restrictions from 13 to 15. Admitting that it would be an “uphill battle,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called on politicians to protect young people against platforms that are “pitted against small children’s brains,” The Guardian reports.
In spite of the existence of its current ban, research has found that 58% of 10-year-olds and 72% of 11-year-olds are on social media. The government plans to introduce other measures to ensure its new ban fares more successfully. One possible solution that has been mooted is the requirement of bank accounts as a form of verification.
France
In 2023, the French government introduced legislation to ban under-15s from accessing online services without parental permission. While European Union (EU) data regulations stipulate that teenagers must be 16-years-old to consent to having their data processed, individual member states can lower the age limit if they deem appropriate.
As reported by Euro News, President Emmanuel Macron has since called on Europe to standardize 15 as a “digital majority,” giving parents the tools to decide whether or not their children access social media before the age of 15.
Germany
German teens between the ages of 13 and 16 currently need their parents’ permission to use social media. While pretty modest as regulations go, it’s worth noting that Germany’s social media use is relatively low compared with other countries. Findings from Pew Research Center illustrate that 79% of under-40s use social media. By contrast, it is used by 90% of under-40s in France.
While there no plans to pass similar measures to the likes of Australia, child protection advocates are keen for further restrictions.
Italy
Italian law states that under-14s must seek parental consent before they sign up for social media accounts. This would not appear to be deterring young people, according to Higher Health Institute. Reportedly, four-fifths of Italian teenagers use social media daily, 10% of whom exhibit “problematic use.” Alarmingly, a further 40% of 13-year-old girls indicate problematic use, as per the report.
South Korea
South Korea rolled out the now-defunct “Cinderella Law” in 2011. This prevented teens under the age of 16 from using gaming sites between the hours of midnight and 6AM. Originally introduced to curb gaming addiction, the law has now been repealed.
Greece
In December 2024, Greece announced planned regulations to protect social media users under the age of 15. New rules will mean mandatory age checks, and parental controls that give parents the ability to identify and block certain keywords.
The move follows Greece banning mobile phones from schools in September 2024.
Why Do Countries Want to Introduce Social Media Bans for Teens?
There’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that social media and teens should be kept far away from each other.
Young people’s mental health is spiraling. The World Health Organization (WHO) finds that, globally, one in seven teenagers between 10-19 experiences a mental health issue, which corresponds to 15% of the “global burden of disease” among this age demographic.
The causes for this are manifold and complicated. But there’s no denying that the explosion of misinformation, deluge of “beauty filters,” and rampant use of AI that comprise a significant portion of social media play their part. To explicate this link, look no further than the lawsuit that TikTok is currently facing for its part in the mental health crisis.
