Should Teens Have Access to Social Media?

by Jose Baixauli

Every day, millions of kids wake up and check social media before they even get out of bed. Apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat have become a huge part of growing up. They’re how teens communicate, keep up with friends, learn new things, and stay connected to the world. But even though these platforms are just everyday life for most teens, they’ve become a major concern for parents and lawmakers, especially around mental health, safety, and privacy.

Because of these concerns, some countries have reacted by banning social media for younger users. France, Australia, and Spain have all banned people under 16 from using social media unless they have parental permission. In the United States, there’s no national rule yet, but several states have already passed strict laws. Virginia, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Georgia now ban kids under 16 from using social media at all, and even older teens need permission to get back online.

In my opinion, banning social media once kids reach middle school or older is completely unnecessary. I understand the idea of limiting social media for children under 10, they’re too young to deal with the risks. But that should be the cutoff. Extending these bans all the way to age 16 feels extreme and shows a lack of actual parenting.

If a parent doesn’t want their child on social media, that should be handled at home. Parents can take the phone, set limits, check what their kids are doing, or talk to them about what’s safe. That’s literally part of the job. It shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility to enforce rules that parents don’t want to manage themselves. These laws end up hurting everyone, even the families who already teach their kids how to use social media responsibly. Instead of teaching teens how to navigate the online world safely, lawmakers are trying to block them from it completely, all because some parents don’t want to put in the effort.

This also ignores how important social media has become for schools. Most high schools here rely on Instagram and other platforms to share updates, club announcements, sports schedules, event reminders, and last-minute changes. A lot of students check a school’s social media more often than their emails, and schools know that. It’s one of the fastest ways to reach almost everyone. If teens suddenly aren’t allowed on social media at all, you’re not just taking away entertainment; you’re cutting them off from actual school communication.

Banning social media for kids under 10 makes sense. But banning it for everyone up to 16 ruins it for teens who use it safely, for parents who already guide their kids responsibly, and for schools that depend on it. If parents don’t want their kids on social media, they should parent their own kids. They shouldn’t push lawmakers to create rules that punish everyone else.