Should social media be banned for minors?
Anxiety, sleep disorders, isolation, cyberbullying, loss of self-esteem: warnings about young people's mental health are on the rise. Faced with this concern, public authorities are seeking quick answers by targeting social media.
A simple solution to a complex problem?
Since December 2025, Australia has banned access to major platforms for children under 16. In France, a bill passed on first reading provides for a ban for children under 15 from the start of the 2026 school year. A simple solution to a complex problem? Not so sure. "Social media is not the only problem, but it amplifies existing vulnerabilities," says Dr. Frédéric Kochman, a child psychiatrist at the emeis Lautréamont clinic.
In public debate, platforms are often held responsible for a general decline in adolescent well-being, but the scientific reality is more nuanced. In practice, the impact depends mainly on the young person's profile: "Adolescents who are mentally healthy can use social media without major consequences. On the other hand, those who are vulnerable are much more susceptible. " In other words, social media does not necessarily cause suffering, but it can exacerbate it.
- 76%
of children under the age of 13 already use social media (Born Social, 2025)
- 10 à 15 %
Each additional hour per day increases the risk of anxiety or depression symptoms by 10 to 15% (Liu et al., 2022)
- Nearly 75 %
of young French and Belgian people aged 13 to 25 say they have already sent an intimate image (Blécot et al., 2022)
15 years old: a symbolic boundary
Why ban it at 15? The answer is more political than scientific, since the brain only reaches full maturity around the age of 25. It is accepted that the need for recognition, fear of judgement and social comparison remain active well beyond this arbitrary age limit.
One of the most harmful effects is related to the social universe created by these platforms:
"Teenagers feel that others are always more beautiful, happier and more popular. This illusion is extremely harmful to developing personalities." Social comparison, already intense at this age, becomes permanent. And public.
Cyberbullying has emerged as a major risk: "When we ask 15-year-olds, very few have never been confronted, directly or indirectly, with a situation of cyberbullying."
Finally, there are other less visible effects: night-time smartphone use disrupts sleep and attention, and sexual abuse (blackmail or dissemination of intimate images) is very common. In addition, all the negative spirals fuelled by algorithms can expose young people who are already very vulnerable to repeated content about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.
Banning social media will not be enough
For Dr Kochman, this ban is primarily a way of sending a message to parents, making them aware of the preventive and educational role they have to play in their children's use of social media. The most effective measures to implement at home are often the simplest: no phones in bedrooms at night, enforcing screen-free times, and setting clear and consistent boundaries.
The challenge is not so much to eliminate social media, but to learn how to use it wisely so that it does not become the only source of stimulation. "What worries me most is not just the time spent on social media, but what we are no longer doing instead. Moments of boredom must be preserved: they are essential for imagining, creating and building one's identity," insists the child psychiatrist.
If time is freed up, the specialist believes it should be reinvested in activities that promote adolescent development. Off-screen activities, such as sports, artistic pursuits, theatre or music, act as powerful emotional regulators. They boost self-esteem and foster real connections.
For Dr. Frédéric Kochman, the issue is societal: "A civilisation that does not invest in developing young people's creativity runs the risk of producing generations that are less critical and less inventive."
emeis: supporting rather than demonising
At the emeis Lautréamont clinic in Lille, teams observe the effects of excessive use on sleep, self-esteem and relationships. The approach aims for balance: clear rules (mobile phone use limited to 1.5 hours per day), educational support and concrete alternatives (sport, theatre, chess, discussion groups) to rebuild connections and create spaces for expression.