Overview
- The UK government has begun a national consultation on prohibiting minors from social networks, considering options such as night curfews and forced breaks after pressure from Labour MPs.
- France plans to bar under-15s from social platforms from the 2026 school year, with legislation backed by President Emmanuel Macron due for examination in the coming weeks.
- Australia’s restrictions already block under-16s from major social networks and community sites including YouTube and Reddit, in effect since December.
- France’s health agency Anses reviewed roughly 1,000 studies in January and reported numerous harmful effects on adolescents, while researchers remain split on bans versus design and policy fixes.
- A 2025 meta-analysis led by Michael Noetel found a vicious cycle between screen overuse and poorer mental health, whereas a JAMA Pediatrics study led by Ben Singh linked both heavy use and total abstinence to worse outcomes, as teens and experts propose time limits and digital education over outright bans.