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Do you think social media bans will protect children?

Australia recently passed a law banning social media for children and younger teens, and other countries may follow suit. But do you think such bans will work?

Do you think social media bans will protect children?

Growing concerns over children's social media consumption have spurred governments, parents, and schools to seek ways to safeguard youngsters from potential dangers like stalking, cyberbullying, or sexual harassment. Experts also warn of misleading health and medical information online, such as content that may romanticize or oversimplify conditions like ADHD, potentially leading young users to self-diagnose.

One proposed solution is to prohibit children under a certain age from using social media. Australia took a pioneering step in December 2025 by implementing a law requiring platforms to block users under 16 from creating accounts. However, some experts contend that there are more effective methods to ensure online safety for kids without entirely barring them from social media.

The question remains: are bans beneficial or essential? Cast your vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section.

Written by urgent.news from Live Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at livescience.com →

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