Countries Are Banning Social Media. So Why  Isn't America? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 17, 2026 · 24 MIN

Countries Are Banning Social Media. So Why Isn't America?

from The Dr. Phil Podcast

Countries around the world are moving to protect children from social media. So why is America still waiting? The United Kingdom has announced plans to ban social media for children under 16, joining a growing international movement demanding stronger safeguards for young users. In this episode of The Real Story, Dr. Phil examines the research linking excessive social media use to anxiety, depression, loneliness, cognitive decline, cyberbullying, self-harm content and dangerous viral challenges. Dr. Phil also shares the devastating stories of parents who lost children after online harms, explains how algorithms are engineered to keep young users scrolling and examines the legal protections that have helped shield major technology companies from accountability. But parents do not have to wait for Congress. Dr. Phil outlines practical steps families can take now, including delaying social media access, organizing phone-free communities and working with other parents to give children their childhood back. The verdict on unregulated social media is becoming impossible to ignore. The question is whether America will act before more families pay the price.Thank you to our sponsors:RELAXIUM® Sleep is backed by a 90-day guarantee, so you’ve got nothing to lose. Enjoy restful and refreshing sleep with drug-free, non-habit forming RELAXIUM® Sleep. Get your risk-free bottle now. Go to https://TryRelaxium.com or call 800-952-7770.Retirement Ready? Get up to $20,000 in FREE Gold & Silver with a qualified purchase. Text ASKPHIL to 50505 or visit https://DrPhilgold.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 17, 2026

Embed this episode

As countries move to ban social media for children under 16, Dr. Phil asks why America still allows Big Tech to profit from platforms linked to addiction, anxiety, exploitation and deadly online challenges.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

Countries Are Banning Social Media. So Why Isn't America?

0:00 24:50

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Dr. Phil Podcast?

This episode is 24 minutes long.

When was this The Dr. Phil Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on July 17, 2026.

Can I download this The Dr. Phil Podcast episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!