Banning social media for teenagers is unlikely to have a significant impact. Technology is created by people, and it operates according to their intentions. Attempting to impose age restrictions overlooks the fundamental issue: the core architecture of social platforms.
An increasing number of countries are banning social media use by teens under 16 or introducing laws that restrict it.
In Brazil, for example, users under the age of 16 must link their social media accounts to a parent or guardian to ensure supervision. Additionally, platforms are not allowed to offer infinite scrolling because it creates addictive behaviours.
But do these measures truly protect young users or simply drive them toward less regulated, darker corners of the Internet? Algorithm-driven content is a key aspect of social media platforms.
Dedicated software known as AI humanisers can circumvent age verification by evading detection. Users frequently seek loopholes, such as modifying their facial appearance or making device adjustments to interfere with webcam analysis.
While technology advances faster than legal frameworks, tech companies have been slow to adjust their code regulations. Yet the responsibility for the code, algorithms, and accountability rests with the organisations involved.
So, when someone says, ‘That will happen anyway’, it suggests that using social media is unavoidable, and that is precisely where the challenge lies! The use of restrictions may hinder valuable opportunities to educate young users about responsible online behaviour.
With the rapid evolution of AI, youth need to be prepared to navigate technological, digital, and emotional challenges. New social platforms can emerge overnight featuring styles that ignore existing regulations.
Historically, every major technological leap has sparked intense social anxiety regarding its impact on youth. For example, critics worried that the introduction of the printing press would corrupt young minds and discourage physical activity.
The arrival of the radio sparked concerns among parents that bedtime programmes would disrupt children's sleep. Similarly, when television made its way into our living rooms, experts warned it would lead to a decline in family conversations and foster a passive generation.
When computer games came out in the 1980s, people thought they made kids more violent and socially isolated.
Current concerns focus on mental health issues, highlighting the connection between algorithms and increasing levels of anxiety, depression, and body image problems. Short-form videos are said to diminish the ability to concentrate, while exposure to blue light, along with late-night scrolling, disrupts the body’s natural daily cycles.
The most harmful of all present concerns is cyberbullying. Algorithms that drive engagement can ultimately affect self-esteem and overall mental health. There is a wide range of literature examining the relationship between social media and adolescents’ mental health, with anxiety and depression being the two most frequently measured outcomes. However, the exact nature of this relationship remains the subject of ongoing research.
Would these bans genuinely improve mental health or safety online? I believe that tech companies are misleading users and are shifting the responsibility for social well-being onto educators, parents, and policymakers.
For years, tech companies have resisted these bans, citing concerns about decreased digital advertising revenue, necessary architectural changes, and legal challenges.
Understandably, the bans aim to protect young users from potential harm; however, most of the root causes of issues like anxiety, depression, and isolation may have deeper underlying motives. Social platforms only aggravate an already subconscious situation. In fact, the bans can inadvertently exacerbate feelings of isolation.
Digital literacy and open communication can better serve adolescents navigating the digital world than blanket bans. We have to provide a supportive environment as we prepare a generation of informed citizens who can navigate the complexities of online life and its ethical, social, and political challenges.
The debate reveals a significant conflict among the construction of platforms, user habits and government actions.
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