D66 calls for social media age limit of 15 to cut addiction
3 months, 2 weeks ago

D66 calls for social media age limit of 15 to cut addiction

Dutch News  

Teenagers under the age of 15 should not be allowed to use social media because it is addictive and affecting their sleep and school performance, says the Dutch Liberal democratic party D66. “Tech giants are harming children’s health because social media channels have been designed to be extremely addictive,” D66 MP Hanneke van der Werff told RTL Nieuws. Research has shown that children’s development and mental health can be severely affected by social media and the algorithms make children vulnerable, Van der Werff said. Van der Werff said tech companies should be made to develop a “watertight age verification system”.

Social Media Der Media Age Valkenburg Van Der Werff Werff Social Media Age  social  media  age  addiction  cut  der  van  limit  addictive  d66  children  werff  calls  15

History of this topic

Netflix's ‘Adolescence’ will be shown in schools across the UK to spark conversations on social media harm
3 days, 4 hours ago

Netflix's ‘Adolescence’ will be shown in schools across the UK to spark conversations on social media harm

Firstpost  

Netflix says since the drama launched in March it has amassed 66.3 million views worldwide and has become one of the most talked-about U.K. series in recent memory. “And that’s the devastating effect that the problem of misogyny has on our society.” Jack Thorne, a co-writer on the show, said the team behind “Adolescence” made it to provoke a conversation. …

Roblox and Adolescence: How video games bring the devil into a child's room
4 days, 21 hours ago

Roblox and Adolescence: How video games bring the devil into a child's room

India Today  

A blacked-out room, a glimmer of light coming from the cracks of the door. This incident was shared on Reddit and is one of the thousands of posts on social media platforms on the dangers of online gaming platforms, which expose children to a dark world that most parents are unaware of. Even parents who are aware of social media …

Addressing the growing health crisis of digital addiction in children and adolescents
1 week ago

Addressing the growing health crisis of digital addiction in children and adolescents

The Hindu  

Netflix’s latest drama “Adolescence” may have heightened concerns on the impact of screen addictions among the young. Identifying digital addiction in children “Overuse of digital devices can impact mental health, sleep, physical activity, academic performance, and social skills in children. It is important to watch for the following signs of digital addiction in children - irritability when devices are taken …

'Social media isn't the only problem': Therapist shares key lessons from Netflix’s Adolescence series
1 week, 1 day ago

'Social media isn't the only problem': Therapist shares key lessons from Netflix’s Adolescence series

Hindustan Times  

Adolescence has quickly become one of Netflix's most talked-about series of 2025, leaving viewers hooked on the chilling story of accused teen murderer Jamie Miller. Social media isn't the only problem Divija shares, "A lot of people believe that social media is the reason Jamie became a murderer, but that's not the full picture. Banning social media won't solve anything …

Why Netflix's Adolescence is a wake-up call to society
Trending News
2 weeks ago

Why Netflix's Adolescence is a wake-up call to society

Hindustan Times  

The age of social media has transformed the world and is shaping communication, culture, politics, business, and even personal identity, today. What’s going on with our society?’” But the web series is layered and as you dig deeper, you realise how social media contributed extensively to shaping 13-year-old Jamie Miller’s personality, self-image, self-esteem, fragile ego and the social isolation he …

Child's heartbreaking answer that shows how mobiles have ruined lives of a generation - as terrifying consequences for their brains are revealed
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Child's heartbreaking answer that shows how mobiles have ruined lives of a generation - as terrifying consequences for their brains are revealed

Daily Mail  

Generation Zombie by Charlotte Armitage There are currently 987,000 16 to 24-year-olds at a loose end, neither in education or employment, slumped at home, a quarter of them complaining of precarious mental health – ‘zoned out’ in Charlotte Armitage’s phrase, ‘zombified’, by gazing at the little screens on their phones, an addiction every bit as bad as drinking, drugs or …

Social media and young minds
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Social media and young minds

The Hindu  

While walking down the street, I noticed a five-year-old child sitting next to his mother, fully engrossed in his mother’s phone and scrolling through reels. Exposing children to smartphones and social media at an early age is reshaping childhood development in ways we are only beginning to understand. Prolonged exposure to social media deregulates the dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter pathways …

Bid to stop children 'doom scrolling' on social media apps such as TikTok and Snapchat is watered down after Labour ministers oppose tough crackdown
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Bid to stop children 'doom scrolling' on social media apps such as TikTok and Snapchat is watered down after Labour ministers oppose tough crackdown

Daily Mail  

A bid to restrict children's use of smartphones to prevent them 'doom scrolling' on social media has been watered down after ministers opposed the measures. Labour MP Josh MacAlister proposed legislation to protect under-16s from addictive social media content on sites like TikTok and Snapchat. Labour MP Josh MacAlister proposed legislation to protect under-16s from addictive social media content on …

Parliament majority favors motion for age limit on addictive social media sites
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Parliament majority favors motion for age limit on addictive social media sites

NL Times  

The Tweede Kamer has called for an age limit for social media sites that use addicting techniques. “Technology companies are not succeeding in offering a safe and healthy environment for our children.” State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport, Vincent Karremans promised during a debate last month that he would produce an advice for a minimum age for social media …

TikTok, Meta and Snapchat slam YouTube's proposed exemption from social media ban
4 weeks, 1 day ago

TikTok, Meta and Snapchat slam YouTube's proposed exemption from social media ban

ABC  

The federal government has been accused of making a "sweetheart deal" to exempt YouTube from the teen social media ban, as YouTube's competitors kick off a co-ordinated public campaign against the move. In its submission, TikTok calls it a "sweetheart deal" and said exempting YouTube from the teen social media ban would be "akin to banning the sale of soft …

Social media and suicides: an inflection point
4 weeks, 2 days ago

Social media and suicides: an inflection point

The Hindu  

The most populous country in the world also has the largest number of mobile internet connections – over 1 billion. A total of 31.8% of India’s population actively uses Facebook and 67.5% of all internet users in India have used at least one social media platform. Impact of social media on young minds There is limited research on the impact …

Do bans on smartphones in schools improve mental health?
1 month ago

Do bans on smartphones in schools improve mental health?

Hindustan Times  

France has not allowed smartphone use in primary or secondary schools since 2018, claiming that it would help children focus, reduce their social-media use and mitigate online bullying. The brain undergoes profound changes during puberty, meaning that any research on the effects of smartphone use needs to consider the developmental age of the children being studied as well as their …

‘Inventive’ teenagers could circumvent a social media ban, MP warns
1 month, 1 week ago

‘Inventive’ teenagers could circumvent a social media ban, MP warns

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Children do deserve more – they deserve more responsibility from social media companies, more urgency …

Dutch government pressing ahead with social media age limit policy
1 month, 1 week ago

Dutch government pressing ahead with social media age limit policy

NL Times  

The Dutch government is preparing new guidelines to restrict social media use among children. "This advice could include recommendations such as prohibiting children from using social media after a certain time or delaying smartphone access until they reach a specific age." "Phones and social media are designed in a way that makes it extremely difficult for children to stop using …

Digitally responsible teens? Challenges of parental controls in digital literacy
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Digitally responsible teens? Challenges of parental controls in digital literacy

India Today  

Imagine handing your child the keys to a car without ever teaching them how to drive. With the recently released draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules mandating parental control over social media accounts for those under 18, my first reaction as a parent was, “Finally! Instead, it mandates that children under 18 must have ‘verifiable consent’ from their …

What I found when I tried to unplug from social media
1 month, 2 weeks ago

What I found when I tried to unplug from social media

CNN  

CNN — I noticed the compulsive behaviors first. “It also made me think, if we could quit social media in general — like we all would honestly probably love to do — what are we losing connection-wise?” she asked. “Social media platforms, in and of themselves, can be seen as intrinsically neutral,” said Daniel Miller, director of University College London’s …

What I found when I tried to unplug from social media
1 month, 2 weeks ago

What I found when I tried to unplug from social media

CNN  

CNN — I noticed the compulsive behaviors first. “It also made me think, if we could quit social media in general — like we all would honestly probably love to do — what are we losing connection-wise?” she asked. “Social media platforms, in and of themselves, can be seen as intrinsically neutral,” said Daniel Miller, director of University College London’s …

Is your teen addicted to social media? Here’s what to do
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Is your teen addicted to social media? Here’s what to do

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

After Australia’s ban, Indonesia mulls minimum age for social media
1 month, 2 weeks ago

After Australia’s ban, Indonesia mulls minimum age for social media

Al Jazeera  

Jakarta says it is preparing legislation to protect minors from ‘physical, mental, or moral perils’. “By imposing age limits on social media use, the burden of enforcement shifts to tech companies, making them directly responsible for compliance and potential fallout,” Priyandita said, adding that discussions about restricting social media have swirled in Indonesia for years, although serious efforts have gained …

Are you triggering mature media consumption for your children? Study warns parents
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Are you triggering mature media consumption for your children? Study warns parents

Hindustan Times  

Parents, your screen exposure can have a direct impact on the content consumption habits of your children. According to a recent study led by Dr. Jason M. Nagata, University of California, San Francisco, parents who are looking to reduce screen time for their children, should watch their own screen exposure habits first. According to the study, parents with heavy screen …

Safer Internet Day: Is my child addicted to social media?
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Safer Internet Day: Is my child addicted to social media?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

How to tell if your child is addicted to social media
1 month, 3 weeks ago

How to tell if your child is addicted to social media

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Bill Gates says ban on under-16s using social media is likely a ‘smart thing’
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Bill Gates says ban on under-16s using social media is likely a ‘smart thing’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Amid widespread concern about the impact of social media, Australia’s parliament voted last month to ban all …

Their Parents May Not Know It, But Most 11- And 12-Year-Olds Are On TikTok
2 months ago

Their Parents May Not Know It, But Most 11- And 12-Year-Olds Are On TikTok

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The video-sharing app TikTok briefly went dark on Jan. 19, days after a Supreme Court ruling upholding a law requiring that it be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance. Dr. Jason Nagata, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco and one of the study’s authors, told HuffPost, “this highlights a significant issue with the …

Rewiring childhood: The alarming impact of social media on your child's brain
2 months ago

Rewiring childhood: The alarming impact of social media on your child's brain

India Today  

In today’s digital world, smartphones and social media are almost ubiquitous among young people, especially children. Dr Michelle Shah, a lifestyle medicine paediatrician, supports such a ban, citing social media's detrimental impact on mental health. THE NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Social media overstimulates the adolescent brain's reward system, creating a cycle of instant gratification. A 2023 study by the …

Stop panicking over teens and social media
2 months ago

Stop panicking over teens and social media

Live Mint  

I recently saw a poster in my local café that made me want to throw my coffee at the wall. Hundreds of researchers around the world, many of them concerned parents themselves, are working to understand the impact that social media is having on young people. How social media affects a young person depends on a range of factors, including …

70 percent of young Dutch people struggle to stop scrolling on social media
2 months ago

70 percent of young Dutch people struggle to stop scrolling on social media

NL Times  

Seven out of ten Dutch youth find it difficult to put down their phones while using social media, with rates climbing to nearly eight in ten in the Amsterdam region. According to the research, uncontrolled social media use can lead to mental health issues, loneliness, and sleep disturbances. “Young people who already experience mental health problems often turn to social …

More children in 14-16 age group use phone for social media than education: Report
2 months ago

More children in 14-16 age group use phone for social media than education: Report

India Today  

More than 57 per cent of children in the 14-16 age group use smartphones for educational purposes, while 76 per cent of them use the device for accessing social media, according to the Annual Status of Education Report released on Tuesday. The report noted that more than 82 per cent of the children in the said age group know how …

Majority of Dutch citizens support social media ban for children under 16
2 months, 1 week ago

Majority of Dutch citizens support social media ban for children under 16

NL Times  

A majority of Dutch citizens now support banning social media use for children under the age of 16, according to the Nationaal Social Media Onderzoek 2025, the largest study on social media trends in the Netherlands. Neil van der Veer, director of research firm Newcom, which conducted the study, described a "fundamental shift" in attitudes toward social media use among …

Growing support in Tweede Kamer for social media age limit
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Growing support in Tweede Kamer for social media age limit

NL Times  

Momentum is building in the Tweede Kamer for introducing a minimum age for social media use, with key parties signaling support for regulation. D66 Member of Parliament Hanneke van der Werf sparked the discussion weeks ago, advocating a minimum social media age of 15. Jesse Six Dijkstra, an NSC MP, said, “We want to assemble a representative group of the …

Is social media addiction real? Study explores its effect on adolescents
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Is social media addiction real? Study explores its effect on adolescents

Hindustan Times  

The age of 11 and 1 is a phase of transition when children are just about to step into teenage. According to a recent study led by Dr. Jason Nagata, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, social media addiction among children of this age is troublesome. Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and the lead author of the …

Indonesia plans minimum age for social media use
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Indonesia plans minimum age for social media use

The Hindu  

“Indonesia plans to issue a regulation to set a minimum age for users of social media, a move aimed at protecting children,” the country’s Communications Minister said. The plans follows Australia’s decision to ban children under 16 from accessing social media, with fines for tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok if they failed to prevent children …

How parental nod to join social media will protect Under-18 in India
2 months, 3 weeks ago

How parental nod to join social media will protect Under-18 in India

India Today  

Indian children under 18 will now need the consent of parents to join social media platforms. “This rule could promote a safer environment for minors, reduce impulsive and harmful usage patterns, and encourage responsible digital habits by involving parents in their children’s online choices,” he adds. Social media platforms often contain an overwhelming mix of unedited content.” Children may lack …

Seeing Silicon | Content moderation just died. Is that a bad thing?
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Seeing Silicon | Content moderation just died. Is that a bad thing?

Hindustan Times  

Earlier this week, Mark Zuckerberg took a step to end corporate content moderation on Facebook and Instagram. There’s also a dial-back of filters on issues like gender and immigration though Meta will continue to automatically block illegal and high-severity violation posts, like terrorism, fraud and drug-related content. For many, Zuckerberg’s move is seen as a ploy to get in the …

Technology, social media and stress: Doctor explains how they influence adolescent minds
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Technology, social media and stress: Doctor explains how they influence adolescent minds

Hindustan Times  

Adolescents are exposed to technology and social media. In an interview with HT lifestyle, Dr. Madhukar Bhardwaj, Director & HOD Neurology, Aakash Healthcare said, “Adolescents are often early and savvy users, and fast innovators of technology use. This may create new vulnerabilities, but also creates new positives, particularly the use of technology to promote healthy learning and development.” Overuse of …

As Meta drops fact-checkers, what to teach your kid about social media
2 months, 3 weeks ago

As Meta drops fact-checkers, what to teach your kid about social media

CNN  

Editor’s note: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. CNN — Many parents were already worried about their kids being exposed to false information and other harmful content on social media before Meta’s surprise decision to drop its fact-checkers. “If they’re not, it doesn’t mean it’s not true, but it does mean you should dig …

As Meta drops fact-checkers, what to teach your kid about social media
2 months, 3 weeks ago

As Meta drops fact-checkers, what to teach your kid about social media

CNN  

Editor’s note: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. CNN — Many parents were already worried about their kids being exposed to false information and other harmful content on social media before Meta’s surprise decision to drop its fact-checkers. “If they’re not, it doesn’t mean it’s not true, but it does mean you should dig …

Australian-style social media ban for under-16s is unlikely, says technology secretary
3 months ago

Australian-style social media ban for under-16s is unlikely, says technology secretary

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An Australian-style social media ban for under-16s is highly unlikely, the …

Your kid is spending too much time on their phone. Here’s what to do about it
3 months, 1 week ago

Your kid is spending too much time on their phone. Here’s what to do about it

CNN  

Editor’s note: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Also, “is your teen doomscrolling, comparing themselves to others?” It’s also important, Greenberg said, to ask whether teens are part of healthy online groups. “I’ve also worked with teens who connect on social media with other fans of a certain musician, or a book series, and …

Your kid is spending too much time on their phone. Here’s what to do about it
3 months, 1 week ago

Your kid is spending too much time on their phone. Here’s what to do about it

CNN  

Editor’s note: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Also, “is your teen doomscrolling, comparing themselves to others?” It’s also important, Greenberg said, to ask whether teens are part of healthy online groups. “I’ve also worked with teens who connect on social media with other fans of a certain musician, or a book series, and …

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer
3 months, 2 weeks ago

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer

NPR  

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer toggle caption Provided by the Australian eSafety Commission Australia passed one of the strictest internet crackdowns in the world last month, banning children under 16 from being on social media or opening new accounts. Sponsor Message Research that's examined the link between social media use and teens' …

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media

NL Times  

Dutch political party D66 is advocating for a minimum age of 15 for social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. “Tech giants are harming children’s health because social media is deliberately designed to be addictive,” said D66 parliamentarian Hanneke van der Werf, according to RTL." “The Netherlands doesn’t let cigarette manufacturers determine and enforce age restrictions,” Van der …

Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental ‘fury’ over tech
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental ‘fury’ over tech

Associated Press  

Julie Scelfo started MAMA — Mothers Against Media Addiction — earlier this year to help parents fight back against the harms of social media on children. A former journalist, Scelfo says she was inspired to take action after reporting on the youth mental health crisis and how screens and social media are affecting young people’s lives. Scelfo says the group …

Smartphones and social media 'toxic' for children under 14, psychologist Jonathan Haidt says
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Smartphones and social media 'toxic' for children under 14, psychologist Jonathan Haidt says

ABC  

Children's widespread use of smartphones and tablets has been labelled "insanity" by a United States social psychologist, who says Australia is "leading the way" with its "bold" new social media laws. Support for young people The Butterfly Foundation: National helpline 1800 33 4673 ReachOut Australia: Confidential online peer support and resources Headspace: Check out eheadspace for online support The Kids …

Can parents get behind the Aussie ban on social media for kids?
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Can parents get behind the Aussie ban on social media for kids?

Live Mint  

“I wish I could move to Australia!" That was a sentiment expressed by a mother of two teen boys soon after she heard about Australia’s recent decision to bar children under 16 from using social media. Of course, parents need to set strict boundaries with children and not have to rely on a ban, but let’s face it, social media …

Nearly half of American teens are on the internet ‘almost constantly.’ Here’s what they’re viewing
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Nearly half of American teens are on the internet ‘almost constantly.’ Here’s what they’re viewing

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Seventy-five percent of teens aged 15 to 17 are more likely to use social media than teens …

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites
3 months, 3 weeks ago

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy California, home to some of …

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
3 months, 3 weeks ago

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

The Hindu  

California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who …

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
3 months, 3 weeks ago

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember …

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