Beyond bans: How should we protect children using social media?

Social media restrictions for young people are spreading across the world, but a ban may not answer the harder question: how to protect adolescents while recognizing what they need from their social lives.

Australia and the United Kingdom have introduced bans on social media accounts for children under 16. Türkiye imposed restrictions on users under 15 in April 2026, while New Zealand, France, Spain and Slovakia are moving in the same direction. In the United States, 29 states have sued Meta, alleging that its platforms were designed to encourage addiction among children. Concerns about the effect of prolonged engagement on children’s mental health have added to the pressure on technology companies.

Adolescence is a period of intense social identity exploration. Young people become more attached to peers than to family, pay greater attention to appearance and the outside world, seek their peers’ approval and push back against rules and authority. Brain systems involved in attention, feedback and peer approval become especially sensitive during this period, while the regions responsible for self-regulation are still developing.

That makes peer relationships a central developmental need, and many of those relationships now take place online. Social media can help teenagers stay connected with family and school friends, work together on projects and communicate quickly. It can also offer companionship to young people who feel lonely or struggle socially. Those who cannot find peers with similar interests at school or in their neighborhood may find support, acceptance and belonging elsewhere in the world.

Digital platforms also expose young people to other countries and cultures. The debate therefore involves more than whether social media is harmful or whether access should be restricted. It also concerns how to protect children without overlooking the connections and support that online communities can provide.