Media release: Social media age restrictions needed to protect young people from harm

A new Briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre (PHCC) calls for age limits on social media platforms to protect young people from harm.

Authored by Dr Samantha Marsh, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, the Briefing outlines growing evidence that social media use is linked to a range of mental and physical health problems in youth. It highlights policy options for addressing these harms, including restricting access to social media for those under the age of 16.

“Introducing an age restriction is the only comprehensive measure that addresses the full range of social media-related harms to young people,” says Dr Marsh.

"It also empowers parents to set boundaries and shift social norms in a positive direction."

While social media may offer some benefits for some young people, such as helping connect with peers and find support, Dr Marsh warns these must be weighed carefully against mounting evidence of harm.

“There’s a huge imbalance. The weight of evidence showing that these platforms can negatively affect youth mental health has become too great to ignore,” she says.

“We now have years of consistent findings: young people who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and disrupted sleep. These findings come not only from surveys, but also from longitudinal studies, randomised trials, and robust systematic reviews.”

Any changes to social media access should be accompanied by a coordinated effort to provide on and offline support for vulnerable youth, as well as empowering communication campaigns. 

The Briefing’s release coincides with the Government’s inquiry into online harms experienced by young people, which is currently open for public consultation (submissions close 30 July).

Dr Marsh says the inquiry is a vital opportunity to build healthier digital environments.

“Political decision-makers now have a strong enough evidence base to act. Delaying access to social media and supporting youth and whānau through a coordinated public health response is the path forward.”