Early research: social media bans don't improve teen mental health

A researcher argues there is no clear evidence that banning minors from social media improves their mental health, even as more than 20 countries adopt such rules. In Australia, about 61% of kids aged 12–15 still access platforms via VPNs, fake IDs and altered photos.

• More than 20 countries have proposed or enacted bans for minors, including Australia and the UK
• About 61% of Australian kids aged 12–15 still access social media despite the ban
• YouTube and Meta have paid over $17 billion in lawsuits since March 2026
• Age-verification methods rely on sensitive data, raising privacy concerns