Primer: Banning Social Media for Children Under Age 16

Social media has revolutionized how people communicate, understand the world, and navigate through life. Its impact is so massive that it’s hard to quantify, but social media has not brought about only positive change. Many people believe that social media has been especially harmful for children, but the government has not taken significant action to limit use. This week, Political Union will debate the resolution: Children under 16 should be prohibited from social media. 

On the pro side, the argument is grounded in alarming statistics about how children spend their time. 46% of children say they use the Internet “almost constantly”, and almost all of this time is spent on social media. This has pernicious effects on mental health as young teens face difficult social pressures and exposure to sensitive, harmful, or age-inappropriate content. Our country is currently suffering through a teen mental health crisis, which is undoubtedly related to social media use: in 2021, 42% of teens experienced symptoms of depression, and 20% reported having suicidal thoughts. And time spent on phones is time not spent outdoors in traditional play settings, where children can not only be physically active but also learn important social skills like conflict resolution. Social media has bred the Anxious Generation, and banning its use for children under 16 may be the only solution.

The con side can’t dispute the facts about social media and its impact on the wellbeing of children. However, there is a powerful argument centered on parental rights. Any law banning social media for young people immediately disrupts the freedom of parents to raise their children as they see fit. If parents can get upset about the content of books read in school, then they will be irate if the government imposes this restriction on their families. Further, social media can still be a valuable source of information for young people. Kids don’t read newspapers every morning – they get updates on current events through Instagram and TikTok. It’s also a great way to connect and communicate with people. The value of social media doesn’t magically appear only after your 16th birthday. Lastly, any sort of law would be incredibly difficult to write and enforce: this proposal is simply unworkable. 

Join us this Monday at 7pm in Scott Hall 201 for the debate!

"Kids Using Phone" by AndLikeThings is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

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