UK and France weigh youth social media bans as global debate intensifies

Australia may have sparked a global rethink about how young people use social media. Now the UK and France are edging toward similar restrictions, igniting a fierce debate that stretches from government corridors to kitchen-table conversations.

What began as a bold policy move in Canberra has quickly become a talking point around the world, including here in South Africa, where parents and teachers have been grappling with the same concerns for years.

Australia’s big leap

When Australia announced a national prohibition preventing under 16s from using major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, it became the first country to take such a drastic step. Within weeks, the impact was visible. Australia’s online safety watchdog revealed that tech companies had already blocked 4.7 million accounts flagged as belonging to underage users.

That rapid enforcement caught the attention of policymakers in Europe, particularly in France and the United Kingdom, where anxiety over teenage mental health has been rising steadily.

Europe takes notice

France is debating a proposal to restrict access for under 15s, a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron. Across the Channel, The Guardian reported that UK officials have consulted Jonathan Haidt, the American psychologist behind the bestselling book The Anxious Generation. Haidt argues that excessive screen time is reshaping children’s brains and contributing to a worrying mental health epidemic.

His theories have become highly influential among politicians eager to act, although the academic community remains split.

A divided scientific community

Not everyone is convinced that banning social media will solve the problem. Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers has been one of Haidt’s most outspoken critics, arguing that his alarming conclusions are not supported by science.

Meanwhile, researcher Michael Noetel from the University of Queensland says the truth sits somewhere in between. He believes the harms are real and widespread, even if the scientific picture is not as clear-cut as some policymakers hope.

“My read is that Haidt is more right than his harshest critics admit, and less right than his book implies,” he said, describing a potential ban as “a bet worth making.”

France’s public health watchdog ANSES recently reviewed the evidence too. Their conclusion was that social media does contribute to worsening mental well-being among teens, especially girls, but it is not the only cause.

When moderation may matter more

Other researchers warn that taking away social media entirely could create new problems. Ben Singh from the University of Adelaide tracked more than 100,000 young Australians and found that the teens faring the worst were those who used social media heavily or not at all.

Moderate users, by contrast, showed better emotional balance. His findings also suggest boys suffer most when completely cut off from online social interaction, especially in late adolescence.

This nuance has become a major flashpoint in the public conversation. While some parents support strict bans, others argue that social platforms are now deeply embedded in how teens communicate, learn and develop a sense of belonging.

Fears of unintended consequences

French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron agrees that social media can be harmful but warns that an outright ban may backfire. He argues that tech-savvy teens will find ways around restrictions and that parents must remain responsible for managing their children’s online habits.

“In recent years, the debate has become extremely polarised between an outright ban or nothing at all,” he said, calling for a middle-ground approach.

The world watches Australia

With so much disagreement, many experts say the best next step is to study Australia’s experiment closely. Cambridge researcher Amy Orben believes that within a year, the global community will have a clearer picture of whether a ban helps, harms or simply shifts teen behaviour to new platforms.

Social media reacts

The global conversation is already unfolding online. On X, parents have traded stories about their children’s anxiety, sleep problems and screen dependency. Teenagers themselves are pushing back, arguing that social media is not only entertainment but a lifeline for social connection, especially in countries where in-person youth activities are limited or expensive.

South African users have joined the debate too, with many comparing the issue to local concerns about cyberbullying, academic pressure and the rising cost of digital access.

What comes next?

As governments weigh their options, one thing is clear. The world is entering a new chapter in the long relationship between young people and the internet. Whether bans become the new norm or remain an Australian outlier, the conversation about teen mental health is not going away.

For now, the UK and France are watching, waiting and preparing to decide how far they are willing to go to protect the next generation.

{Source: EWN}

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