What Age Should Children Be allowed to Access Social Media?

 The majority of social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, set the minimum age restriction for users at 13. This age limit was established in a 1998 legislation that prevented online webservices from collecting children's data without parental consent. Since then 13 has become the standard for companies like Facebook to adhere to when setting minimum age restrictions. It has also become the default age for parents to assume it is safe for their children to use social media.


The internet has evolved significantly since then. The rise of smartphones in the 2010s and the simultaneous boom in social media platforms means children are spending a large part of their time online, potentially exposed to harmful content, cyberbullying, and applications that distract them from school work or everyday tasks. Although there are a variety of factors at play - such as maturity, social competence, and intellect - many have argued that 13 is too young, and I would argue the same.


In a study from 2023, it has been shown that teenagers spend up to 4.8 hours per day on social media platforms. Of these the largest amount of time spent was on Youtube at 1.9 hours, TikTok at 1.5 hours, and Instagram at 0.9 hours. Where parents agreed on restrictions the survey showed that teens spend 1.8 hours less time than those whose parents disagreed. In a study of  3, 640 US parents conducted by by the Pew Research Center in 2020, 66% of the parents say that parenting is harder today than it was two decades ago, many citing technology as a reason why. These findings suggest that the growth in social media usage among teens is causing them to spend less time with their parents and more online, and it is likely that they also spend less time with important tasks like homework.


Studies have shown that social media has a powerful effect on the mind, causing dopamine spikes at each new reaction and "like". Coupled with the exponential rise in volume of online content, these factors would play a significant role in the mental development of children. As aforementioned, setting a minimum age restriction is difficult because teenagers mature at different rates. Moreover the opponents of age restrictions suggest that exposure to social media can have positive effects on children, who might be more prepared for careers in the online world. Despite this, overwhelming evidence such as increases in teenage suicide (especially among young girls) due to cyberbullying and lack of sleep and physical exercise show that the correct age limit has to be re-evaluated and possibly set higher, possibly at 16. At 16 the adolescent mind might be more equipped to deal with sources of distraction, cyberbullying, and potentially harmful content. At that age, adolescents might also show a higher degree of independence and self-awareness, not requiring the supervision attention of their parents.



https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa


https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx


https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/parenting-children-in-the-age-of-screens/

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