Can social media bans protect young people’s mental health? Early research suggests that bans aren’t the answer

In 2026, social media platforms faced significant financial consequences through lawsuits. YouTube and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, paid over US$17 billion in settlements or payouts. These lawsuits accused the companies of negligence, deliberately designing platforms to hook children, and misleading the public about safety and privacy. The legal actions suggest a growing public and governmental perception that social media platforms may be responsible for harming young users. This shift in viewpoint could lead to more lawsuits against these companies in the future.

Starting in late 2025, several countries began implementing bans on social media access for minors. Australia was among the first, prohibiting children under 16 from using social media platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The United Kingdom followed with similar restrictions. Over 20 countries, including Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada, are now considering or have enacted such bans. These restrictions vary by country, with differences in age limits, parental consent requirements, and methods for verifying age. While some bans aim to address mental health concerns, others focus on political or privacy issues.

Young people today face significant mental health challenges. Research from 2026 indicates that individuals aged 14 to 20 are over 100% more likely to experience mental illness compared to the same age group 50 years ago. In 2021, 20.5% of young people showed elevated symptoms of anxiety, and 25.2% reported elevated symptoms of depression globally. Factors contributing to this crisis include increased social media use, better screening for mental health problems, and societal disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased isolation and loneliness among youth.

Despite concerns, social media platforms offer benefits for young people, particularly those who feel disconnected from their local communities. These platforms enable global connectivity, community-building with like-minded groups, self-expression, and civic engagement. A 2022 Pew survey found that 80% of U.S. teens said social media helps them stay connected to their friends' lives. Some researchers compare social media bans to age restrictions on alcohol or cigarettes, arguing that outright bans may not be the best solution for addressing mental health issues.

A comparison can be drawn between social media lawsuits and a 1998 lawsuit against tobacco companies. In that case, states settled with tobacco companies for healthcare costs related to smoking and allocated part of the settlement funds to reduce youth smoking. However, by 2026, only 3.4% of the $21.7 billion collected from tobacco settlements and taxes was used for youth anti-smoking programs. Similarly, a 2026 Meta settlement of $17 billion includes funds for mental health infrastructure, school programs, and public health campaigns, but there is no oversight or mechanism to ensure these funds improve youth mental health.

Early evidence from Australia’s social media ban shows that enforcement is challenging. Roughly 61% of children aged 12–15 continue to access platforms using false IDs, altered appearances, or virtual private networks (VPNs). Millions of accounts were disabled, but enforcement remains difficult. Some countries, like Australia, require platforms to develop age verification methods, but these methods are unreliable. Minors have bypassed biometric age estimation technology by using photo manipulation, makeup, or enlisting older friends and parents to pass verification tests. These methods also raise privacy concerns due to the collection of sensitive data.

Instead of outright bans, some experts suggest implementing safety by default standards on social media platforms. This approach means that the highest security and privacy settings are automatically enabled for all users, including minors. For example, accounts would be unsearchable by default, requiring users to intentionally change settings to be found by strangers. These standards also limit manipulative features, algorithmic restraints, and addictive mechanisms that may harm vulnerable populations like young people. This approach aims to protect minors while allowing them to benefit from social media.