As Australia enforces a world-first ban on social media for children under 16, countries including France and the United Kingdom are exploring similar measures, sparking heated debate over their potential impact on young people’s mental health.
Australia’s ban, effective December 10, 2025, prohibits under-16s from accessing platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
The move aims to curb what authorities describe as addictive scrolling behaviors among children.
Since its introduction, the country’s online safety watchdog reported that 4.7 million accounts have already been blocked for violating the new age restriction.
In France, lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict social media use for under-15s, a proposal backed by President Emmanuel Macron.
Meanwhile, UK officials have sought guidance from experts, including American psychologist Jonathan Haidt, whose 2024 book, ‘The Anxious Generation’, argues that excessive screen time is contributing to rising rates of mental illness among youth.
Haidt’s perspective, while influential among policymakers, has sparked controversy in academic circles.
Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers contends that the claims in his book are “not supported by science,” highlighting the ongoing debate over how much social media affects adolescent mental health.
Michael Noetel of the University of Queensland argues that even “small effects across billions of users add up,” and believes a ban could be “a bet worth making.”
Similarly, France’s public health watchdog, ANSES, reported that social media can have detrimental effects on adolescents, particularly girls though it is not the sole factor affecting mental health.
Other studies suggested moderation may be key.
Ben Singh of the University of Adelaide tracked over 100,000 young Australians and found that teens using social media moderately fared best in terms of well-being.
Those who used it excessively or not at all, experienced more mental health challenges.
Singh noted that girls were most affected by overuse, while boys in their later teens suffered more from total deprivation.
French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron has described social media as “appallingly toxic,” but warned that outright bans could be circumvented by tech-savvy teens and reduce parental accountability.
Cambridge researcher Amy Orben suggested monitoring Australia’s experiment before adopting similar measures elsewhere, noting it may reveal both benefits and unintended consequences.
The debate continues to polarise policymakers, scientists, and parents alike, balancing the potential mental health benefits of social media restrictions against the risks of overregulation.
