Nearly 60% of American adults support a total ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, according to a major new study released by the Pew Research Center. The survey was conducted from May 26 to June 1, and it highlights growing public anger over how digital platforms impact the mental health and well-being of young people. At a time when tech companies face scrutiny over youth safety features, the data by the study reveals that approximately one-in-five adults oppose a ban, while a quarter remain undecided. According to the current standard across most tech platforms, users need to be at least 13 years old to open an account.
Support spans across the country
The support varies across demographics. Adults with children under the age of 18 are significantly more likely to favour a ban than those without minor children. While roughly half or more of every single age demographic supports the restriction, Americans aged 30 to 49 are the most eager to see the under-16 ban put into law.The perspective comes as governments around the world are drafting laws to enforce strict digital boundaries for teenagers. Australia, Canada and the UK have already established or are actively deliberating a statutory minimum age of 16 for all social media access. Inside the US, state lawmakers in California are moving forward with similar statewide legislation.While a total ban under 16 commands a clear majority, even larger numbers of Americans are demanding immediate, everyday guardrails for minors who are legally allowed online.According to Pew’s tracking data, public support for platform regulations has surged over the past three years. About 85% of adults believe social media companies must mandate parental consent before a minor can create an account, up from 81% in 2023.Additionally, 78% of respondents want platforms to enforce strict daily time limits for minors and require users to legally verify their age before logging in. Across all three tracking categories, about 10% of Americans expressed any opposition to the regulations.
