56% of US Adults Support Banning Social Media for Children Under 16

Nearly 6 out of 10 American adults are in favor of blocking social media (SNS) access for children under 16, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. The poll, which surveyed 9,750 U.S. adults, found that 56% agreed with prohibiting social media use for those under 16, while 21% opposed it and 23% were undecided.

The support rate was highest among parents in their 30s and 40s, reaching 63%. Parents with children under 18 (65%) showed a higher approval rate than respondents without children (52%). This public opinion on regulation transcends political ideologies, with broad consensus seen among 59% of Republican-leaning respondents and 54% of Democratic-leaning respondents expressing agreement.

Beyond a complete ban, respondents also strongly agreed on the need for specific safety measures, such as mandatory parental consent for social media account creation (85%), usage time management (87%), and rigorous age verification (78%).

Internationally, Australia fully banned social media use for children under 16 in December last year, and the UK introduced similar regulations last month. Related legislation is also under discussion in countries including Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia.