Global Concerns Rise Over Children's Social Media Use Amidst Legal Battles and Age Restrictions
Summary
Global concern is rising over children’s social media use as studies link excessive screen time to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and cyberbullying. Countries including Australia, Brazil, Turkey, and the UK are moving toward age restrictions, while tech leaders are also limiting their own children’s device use.
Key Points
- Tech leaders such as Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook and others reportedly restrict their children’s screen and social media use.
- WHO-linked research says problematic social media use among adolescents rose from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022, with girls affected more than boys.
- Excessive social media use has been associated with anxiety, depression, poor sleep, attention problems, and cyberbullying.
- Several countries are introducing or considering age limits for children’s social media access, while Nepal has no separate national age limit yet.
