Should social media be banned for under 16s is the question and it is a debate that is gaining momentum across Europe and beyond.
Governments are considering bans, parents are increasingly concerned and public opinion appears to be shifting.
But while many people support the idea, there is also a growing question. Would banning social media for under 16s actually work?
Growing support across Europe
Following Australia’s high profile decision to ban social media for under 16s, other countries are now exploring similar measures.
A YouGov Australia survey found that 77% of Australians supported the ban. Now, a new YouGov European survey shows strong backing across Europe too.
France leads the way, with 79% of adults supporting a ban on social media for under 16s. France has already passed a bill to ban social media for under 15s, with plans to introduce the law before the next school year.
The UK follows closely, with 76% supporting a ban and just 17% opposed. The British government has already launched a consultation exploring restrictions for under 16s.
Support is also high in:
- Germany: 74% support
- Italy: 70% support
- Spain: 68% support
- Poland: 53% support
Even in Poland, where support is lowest, a majority still back restrictions.
Parents among strongest supporters
Perhaps unsurprisingly, parents are among the strongest supporters of a ban.
In Britain, Italy and Spain, around 79% of parents with children under 18 support restrictions.
Women are also more likely to support a ban than men. This gap is most noticeable in Italy, where 75% of women support the measure compared to 65% of men.
Age differences are less consistent. In France and Germany, support is similar across age groups. In Britain and Italy, younger adults are less supportive, while in Spain and Italy older generations are more divided.
Support across political divides
One of the most striking findings is that support crosses political lines.
In Britain, support is similar across major political parties, ranging between 75% and 79%.
In France, support is strong among both Macron voters (83%) and Le Pen voters (77%). Italy also shows broad agreement across political groups, with support between 69% and 76%.
Spain shows more variation, ranging from 89% among SUMAR voters to 55% among VOX voters, but still showing majority support overall.
But will a ban actually work?
While support for a ban is high, there is also considerable scepticism about how effective it would be.
In Britain, 54% believe a ban would not be very effective or not effective at all. Even among supporters, 46% doubt it would work.
Poland shows similar doubts, with 49% saying bans would not be effective, compared to 39% who believe they would work.
France and Germany are evenly divided.
Spain and Italy are more optimistic. 53% of Spaniards believe a ban would be effective, rising to 61% in Italy. However, only 18% to 25% believe it would be very effective.
Social media is not the whole problem
In my opinion, there is no doubt that social media can have a negative impact on young people. But it is not the only concern.
Young people today are also accessing messaging apps, gaming platforms, forums and websites they should not be seeing. Even with a ban, many would still find ways around restrictions.
That raises another question. Would banning social media alone really solve the issue?
A blanket ban on mobile phones for under 16s is often suggested, but that would be extremely difficult to enforce. Policing what young people do online is not straightforward.
So what is the solution?
There is unlikely to be a single answer.
Stronger age verification, better parental controls, digital education and more responsibility from tech companies could all play a role.
Social media clearly presents challenges for young people, but it is only one part of a much bigger digital world.
As governments across Europe consider bans, the real challenge may not just be restricting access, but helping young people navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
One thing is clear. The debate is far from over.
