Banning minors from social media may not be enough — here are 5 things parents can do

Australia, France, the UAE, Indonesia and Britain have moved in succession to restrict minors' use of social media. Greece is waiting in the wings, with a ban set to take effect in 2027.

The push has gained momentum as teenagers have died attempting dangerous viral "challenges" — trends in which users film themselves performing specific acts and post the footage online — and as social-media-based cyberbullying has grown into a serious problem among young people.

Britain this month announced a full ban on social media use for those under 16, and said it would restrict 16- and 17-year-olds from using social media platforms during late-night hours. In effect, under-15s face an outright ban, while 16- and 17-year-olds face a late-night curfew.

The regulation of minors' social media use is a "hot-button issue" that commands more parental attention than almost any other topic. According to the BBC, a public consultation by Britain's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology drew 116,000 responses — the second-highest ever recorded, behind only the debate over same-sex marriage in 2012. Some 83 percent of parents who responded said the risks social media poses to young people outweigh the benefits, and 91 percent said 16 should be the minimum age for social media use.

Parents, however, worry that even these measures are not enough. The late-night restriction for 16- and 17-year-olds is essentially a plan to disable "infinite scroll" features — such as auto-playing videos — during certain hours. Because it stops short of banning accounts altogether, parents warn that teenagers could simply turn the restriction off and expose themselves to an endless stream of content at any time.

In response, the BBC outlined ways to keep children from spending all day on social media through infinite scroll and similar features. The five tips are: change small lifestyle habits first; build a team with your children and work together; turn social media issues into opportunities for digital literacy education; set an example as a parent first; and trust the brain's resilience and respond calmly.

'Just take away the phone?' That can backfire — start small

If children already have a tablet or smartphone in hand, taking the device away entirely is too big a challenge — and can be counterproductive. Child psychologist Dr. Jane Gilmore recommends designating a single spot in the home, such as a specific bookshelf or a surface in the living room, where all digital devices are kept. "Set up one place for the charger, and make sure the phone always goes back on the charger when they put it down," she said. She also advised that if parents want to address excessive scrolling through social media content, they should bring it up when the child is doing something else — not in the middle of a session. "A calm brain communicates best," she said.

Solving the problem through 'teamwork'

Peer culture lies at the root of teenagers' deep engagement with social media. Belonging to a peer group matters enormously at that age, and because so much of that social life now runs through social media platforms, young people find it hard to step away even when they know the downsides.

Child psychologist Dr. Maryhan Baker said parents need to understand the reality their children face and approach the issue as a team. "It is important for parents to tell their children, 'I know that is where you connect with your friends, and I understand the social pressure you feel when you are not part of it' — and then work together to find a solution," she said.

Parenting coach Olivia Edwards said building a strong bond with children makes it easier to manage their social media use. "Having a strong relationship with your child will lead parents toward cooperation and teamwork," she said.

Using social media issues as a gateway to digital literacy education

Having an honest conversation with children about the widely debated issue of minors' social media use — and turning it into an opportunity for digital literacy education — is another effective approach.

Edwards said neither adults nor children have had many chances to think and talk objectively about social media addiction, and suggested parents can open their children's eyes by asking: "'How do you think social media works? How do you think the app keeps people watching? Did you know they make money the more time people spend on it?'"

Such conversations can also serve as a lesson in digital literacy, she said. "Parents can watch social media with their children and teach critical thinking by asking, 'Do you think this is true? How could we find out whether it is or not?'" she suggested.

Children follow their parents' lead — so parents must change first

Even as teenagers, children still model their behavior on their parents. If parents demonstrate healthy habits around short-form video, children will naturally follow.

Dr. Gilmore said that even a small step away from the constant pull of short-form videos — always available at a swipe — can shift children's behavior. "Staying on a screen keeps us looking at the outside world," she said, adding that it is perfectly fine to step away from palm-sized entertainment and simply let the mind wander.

"Even if your child complains there is nothing to do and is merely staring into space, that is OK. That is a positive thing," she said.

Young brains recover faster than adults' — stay calm

Dr. Tony Sampson, an associate professor of digital communications at the University of Essex, cautioned parents against jumping to the conclusion that their child is already addicted to social media — and against responding with excessive anxiety — simply because young brains are vulnerable to addiction.

"Anxious parents tend to get swept up in widespread media panic and assume that every teenager's brain is inherently wired to be vulnerable to social media addiction," he said. "In fact, children and adolescents possess what is known as neuroplasticity, and their brains are better at adapting and recovering than adult brains."

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and rewire its neural circuits in response to new experiences, learning and environmental changes — essentially, the brain's capacity for resilience.

"Social media does not shorten or erode attention spans. It merely captures attention and redirects it toward commercial content," Dr. Sampson said. "Positive use of technology can help promote neuroplasticity for creativity, exploration and learning."