Teens, Social Media and Mental Health: Age Laws and Evidence — 2026-09-08
France’s President Emmanuel Macron has formally requested the European Commission to draft an EU-wide ban on social media for under-15s, following the recent constitutional censure of similar national laws. Meanwhile, a new survey reveals that 70% of South Koreans support age restrictions, as Australia’s eSafety Commissioner prepares for the first major review of its pioneering under-16 ban.
Teens, Social Media and Mental Health: Age Laws and Evidence — 2026-09-08
Top developments
France escalates push for EU-level age restrictions
Following the French Constitutional Council's August censure of domestic legislation banning social media for minors under 15, President Emmanuel Macron has shifted strategy to the European level. On September 7, Macron formally requested European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to advance a Europe-wide text, aiming for operational restrictions before he leaves office in spring 2027. Von der Leyen is expected to address the issue in her State of the Union address on September 16, signaling potential EU regulatory action
UK youth skeptical of ban effectiveness
New polling published by The Telegraph indicates that a significant portion of young people in the UK are confident they can bypass social media restrictions. The survey suggests that many children expect peers to circumvent bans on platforms like TikTok through alternative accounts or devices, raising doubts about the efficacy of age-verification laws without robust enforcement mechanisms
South Korea sees strong public support for age limits
A survey conducted by the Korea Press Foundation’s Media Research Center reveals that 70.7% of South Koreans support restricting social media use for teenagers. The data highlights a clear generational divide, with older demographics more likely to favor strict age limits compared to younger respondents. This comes as the South Korean government faces pressure to align with global trends, including Australia’s under-16 ban and discussions about raising the age of digital consent to 14 or higher
US state laws expand to 21 jurisdictions
As of early September 2026, at least 21 US states have enacted laws addressing minors’ access to social media, including requirements for age verification and restrictions on addictive feeds. These laws create a complex compliance landscape for platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which are currently adjusting their teen account features to meet varying state standards
Local view
In France, media outlets such as Le Monde and Public Sénat report that the government is effectively conceding the failure of national-only bans after the Constitutional Council struck down the July law on freedom of expression grounds. The narrative has shifted toward seeking "juridically robust" European solutions, with critics noting that two separate laws have been passed but neither applied due to legal hurdles
Context & numbers
- EU Timeline: The European Commission is scheduled to discuss digital age limits in its State of the Union address on September 16, 2026.
- South Korean Survey: 70.7% of respondents aged 14–58 support social media usage restrictions for teens; sample size was 1,000 people.
- US Legislation: 21 states currently have active laws related to minor access and age assurance.
On the radar
- September 16, 2026: Watch for Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech for concrete proposals on EU-wide age verification standards.
- Australian Review: The independent review of Australia’s under-16 ban is mandated to begin within two years of its December 2025 start date; preliminary data on enforcement failures may emerge soon.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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