The Australian Prime Minister has announced plans to pass a law by the end of the year banning social media use for those under 16. He described social media as causing “social harm,” reflecting that the negative consequences of excessive smartphone use among teenagers have reached a severe level, including addiction, bullying, gambling, and cybercrime. While Australia will be the first country to implement nationwide restrictions on youth social media use, similar movements are emerging globally.
In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for legislation that would ban smartphone use for children under 11 and social media use for those under 15. The recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities is part of this broader context. In Italy, significant support from prominent figures, including the Education Minister, is backing an online petition to ban phone ownership for under-14s and social media account creation for under-16s.
Even the U.S., which has traditionally prioritized freedom of expression, is shifting its stance. Recently, attorneys general from 42 states sent a letter to Congress urging the passage of legislation requiring warning labels on social media, similar to those on tobacco and alcohol. This follows a proposal by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in June, who warned that social media distorts reality and promotes harmful content, posing a severe risk to youth mental health.
In late July, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed two bills aimed at protecting children and adolescents from social media addiction. This action followed revelations that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, had knowingly ignored evidence that its services worsened teens’ mental health for profit. U.S. President Joe Biden stated that “our children are subjected to a wild west online.”
Despite ongoing opposition from those who argue for freedom of expression and the benefits of social media, global sentiment is shifting rapidly. Research from the American Medical Association indicates that adolescents who use social media for more than three hours a day are twice as likely to suffer from depression. Other studies suggest that excessive smartphone exposure at a young age can lead to a “popcorn brain,” where the brain only responds to intense stimuli.
South Korea may face the highest level of smartphone and social media addiction among youth globally. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, 40% of teenagers aged 10 to 19 are at risk of smartphone overdependence, and even 25% of young children aged 3 to 9 fall into the same risk category. South Korea likely has the most urgent need for laws to curb smartphone use and social media addiction among children and adolescents.
