Americans Also Say "Children Under 16 Should Be Banned from SNS"

Higher Support Among Parents With Children Under 18

In the United States, there is a growing call for a ban on the use of social networking services (SNS) by minors under the age of 16.

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According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, a U.S. research institution, 56% of Americans said they support banning SNS use for those under 16. The survey polled 9,750 Americans.

By age group, support was highest among those in their 30s and 40s, reaching 63%. Additionally, the support rate was 65% among parents with children under 19, which was higher than the 52% support rate among respondents without children under 18.

Support for or opposition to banning SNS use by minors was not significantly related to political party affiliation. Among Republican and Republican-leaning respondents, 59% supported such a ban, while 54% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents also supported it.

Respondents also showed high approval rates for several related measures: 85% agreed that parental consent should be required before creating an SNS account, 78% supported age verification, and 87% favored policies to manage time limits for usage. In each of these categories, parents with children under 18 showed slightly higher support rates (88%, 83%, and 82%, respectively).

The negative impacts of SNS on adolescents are being reported worldwide. Common examples include experiencing sleep deprivation from using smartphones late into the night, or developing anxiety and depression by comparing oneself to others online. SNS is also called "digital cocaine" because it stimulates dopamine secretion, making it easy for adolescents, who often lack self-control, to become addicted. With concerns rising that SNS is not only detrimental to children's mental health but is also causing serious social problems, countries around the world are introducing regulations.

In December last year, Australia implemented a total ban on SNS use for children under 16. The Australian authorities plan to take legal action based on provisions that fine platforms that fail to prevent minors from holding accounts. Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have also introduced related legislation. Last month, the United Kingdom decided to prohibit SNS use for those under 16, and lawmakers in California also introduced similar bills.

In South Korea, more schools are choosing to ban smartphone use from the start to the end of the school day. There have also been proposals in the National Assembly to introduce smartphones for teenagers that block SNS access.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.