Social Media Bans for Teens Gain Ground | Belfast News

Social media bans for teens under 16 are gaining global traction, with Australia leading the charge and countries like France and the UK rushing to follow — aiming to shield young minds and boost focus and mental health. While half of parents support the move, many worry kids will just find workarounds, and some prefer better online safety education instead. The data reveals a stark age divide: only 25% of 9-11 year-olds use social media, but that skyrockets to 90% by age 16. Kids often lack basic digital literacy — struggling to spot fake sites or use private browsing — and while face-to-face bullying is more common, online harassment affects many, especially those with disabilities. Sexual messages become more frequent as teens get older. This European study aims to inform smarter, safer policies for youth in the digital age. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c17ac2b5c3278ea1