Is This Shocking New Law Banning Kids from Social Media the Start of a National Trend? You Won't Believe the Consequences!

Luca Hagop, 15, spends over 34 hours a week on Instagram, primarily sharing random pet videos with her friends, while her peer Amelie Tomlinson, 14, connects with her social circle through Snapchat, having nearly no one’s phone number saved. However, starting Wednesday, their social media habits will face a significant shift.

Australia is set to implement the world’s broadest social media restrictions for children under 16. This groundbreaking initiative arises from research highlighting the harmful effects of cyberbullying, online predators, and the addictive nature of online content, all of which can adversely impact mental health. Consequently, more than a million minors are expected to lose access to popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, and Snapchat. The responsibility for compliance will lie not with parents or users, but with the platforms themselves.

Australia’s legislative move is being closely monitored by other nations, particularly those considering similar restrictions. In the United States, a wave of recent bills aimed at curbing children’s social media use has emerged at both federal and state levels. However, these efforts are often met with legal challenges.

Supporters of these restrictions assert that limiting children's exposure to social media is essential, as numerous studies have indicated the potential for harm. A survey conducted by Ipsos revealed that 71% of adults across 30 countries favor bans on social media access for children under 14, with notable increases in support in various regions compared to the previous year.

Several states in the U.S. are enacting their own versions of social media regulations. For instance, New York's Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill titled “Stop Addictive Feeds” in 2022, emphasizing the need for protective measures for younger generations. “We owe it to [my granddaughter Sofia’s] generation to put guardrails in place to protect her mental health,” said Hochul in a piece for The New York Post. “We stopped marketing tobacco to kids. We raised the drinking age. And today, we’re fighting to protect kids from the defining problem of our time.”

This sentiment is echoed by Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who praised Hochul’s initiative as “one of the most forward-thinking, visionary initiatives of any state in the nation.”

Other states, including Florida and Utah, have also taken significant steps to regulate social media use among children. Florida's HB3 law, signed in March 2024, restricts access for children under 14, requiring parental consent for those aged 14 and 15. Despite legal challenges, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed this ban to go into effect. Meanwhile, Utah’s 2023 Social Media Regulation Act mandates parental consent for minors and restricts access during nighttime hours. However, parts of this legislation have been blocked by a federal judge due to First Amendment concerns.

Despite this momentum at the state level, many of these laws face significant legal hurdles. As noted by Sandy Dornsife of MultiState, “Most state social media laws face serious First Amendment challenges in federal courts.” Laws in Arkansas and Ohio have been permanently blocked, and measures in California, Florida, and Georgia are currently on hold pending litigation.

Critics of social media bans argue that such legislation raises significant policy and legal concerns. David Inserra, a fellow for free expression and technology at the Cato Institute, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of these laws. “We’ve seen more legislation at a state level passing than at the federal level. Regardless of the specifics of these, there are some serious concerns from free expression and data security perspectives,” he noted. Inserra and other critics argue that these bans could infringe on First Amendment rights. “In a society that should want people to express themselves, we’re restricting access to communities and their ability to speak,” he added.

Moreover, many children are already adept at navigating technology and could easily find ways to bypass these restrictions, such as using their parents' information or lying about their ages. “As soon as you ban something, people find ways around it,” Inserra remarked, warning that children might turn to less regulated platforms that might not prioritize safety.

While Australia’s experiment may offer insights for other nations, including the U.S., its success or failure will largely depend on the reactions of children and their parents. Whether these measures will serve as a cautionary tale or a model for social media management remains to be seen.