BYLINE: “Only a small part of teens’ mental health challenges are explained by social media and phone use; when we pretend that’s the solution, we miss the chance to address predictors that account for far more of the variability in teen well-being,” say professors Dr. Nancy Deutsch and Dr. Bethany Teachman, co-directors of UVA’s Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE) initiative.
Newswise — Globally, policymakers are grappling with how to limit youth social media access, and several countries have passed or are considering social media bans for youth under 16 — yet many observers say Australia’s pioneering age restrictions have failed. Two experts at the University of Virginia are now available to comment on whether bans are effective and the complex role of social media in the teen mental health crisis.
What they’re saying
- “One concern about total bans is that we lose key opportunities to scaffold engagement with social media to help teens build healthy online habits that support their mental health and manage risks, a form of ‘digital fluency.’”
- “Teens are remarkably good at getting around technology bans, so a big question is how effectively restrictions can be implemented. If bans lead young adolescents to do more of their online activity secretly and hide what they are doing, then there is less opportunity for oversight and safety monitoring, and lower likelihood that adolescents will reach out if they need help.”
- “The effects of bans are likely to depend a lot on what the corresponding efforts are to help teens have spaces and opportunities to engage positively in person – simply taking away social media doesn’t itself address teens’ loneliness and isolation.”
Story angles for consideration
- The mental health angle: Today’s youth are growing up in an increasingly online society — what might this mean for their mental health? Is social media the only factor influencing teen mental health challenges? How can we prepare young people to thrive?
- The effectivity angle: All eyes were on Australia as the country implemented a national social media ban for kids under 16, but after six months, many call it a failure. Are bans effective at keeping kids off social media? Do bans address the underlying concerns about youth mental health, social-emotional development, and academic achievement?
- The parenting angle: While the prospect of successful social media regulation is unclear, our experts can help parents understand how to work with their teen on developing a healthy social media diet — and why such conversations are crucial.
The big picture
- Recently, the European Union received an expert report asking them to enact legislation limiting social media access for kids and teens. This would be the largest effort to date in creating age restrictions for apps like TikTok and Instagram, according to The New York Times.
- France overwhelmingly passed a ban on social media access for kids under 15, making it the first EU country to do so. Lawmakers hope to have legislation formalized by September, though it is unclear how platforms and the French government will enforce the age restriction.
- Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media access from children under 16 in 2025, and many countries followed suit. However, many argue that Australia’s policy has failed at actually keeping teens off such platforms and question whether age verification processes are safe.
- Virginia had passed a law limiting kids under 16 to one hour of screen time per day, but a federal judge blocked it due to potential violations of the first amendment.
The bottom line
As countries scramble to reduce youth social media usage, what might effective policies and practices look like? By focusing on restricting social media and cell phones, are we missing the chance to address other predictors of teen well-being?
The experts
Nancy L. Deutsch, PhD [Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Linda K. Bunker Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development; Co-Director of Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE) initiative] Can speak to: promoting positive youth development, cell phone bans, social media restrictions, digital thriving, alternatives to social media, the relationship between cell phone usage and teen mental illness. [email protected] | 434-924-0815
Bethany A. Teachman, PhD [Commonwealth Professor and Director of Clinical Training, UVA Psychology Department; Program for Anxiety, Cognition, and Treatment (PACT) lab; Co-Director of Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE) initiative] Can speak to: managing anxiety and mental health in daily life, cell phone bans, social media restrictions, digital thriving, the relationship between cell phone usage and teen mental illness, use of technology to increase access to mental health care. [email protected] | 434-924-0676
