Should Kids Be on Social Media at 13? Let’s Talk About It.
What if we gave kids just a little more time to grow up, before the pressure of likes, streaks, and social media drama starts shaping their identity?
That’s the question our founder, Lisa Honold, explores in a powerful new OpEd published in dozens of newspapers nationwide:
“Ban Kids from Social Media? Yes, Absolutely.”
What the Research Shows
The U.S. Surgeon General reports that kids who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression.
Yet today, most kids exceed that at younger and younger ages thanks to platforms designed to keep them hooked.
We're seeing the results in schools, at home, and in youth mental health statistics. And parents are exhausted, trying to manage it all without systemic support.
What Kids are being Exposed to on Social Media
Read this article - What you’re really allowing when you let your child have a phone in their bedroom overnight
It's Time to Delay, Not Deny
This isn’t about banning kids from tech forever. It’s about delaying social media until age 16, giving kids’ brains time to develop the emotional regulation, judgment, and digital resilience they’ll need to use it well.
We delay access to alcohol, cigarettes, driving, and gambling for the same reason: to protect growing minds from adult-level risks.
Why not social media?
A Global Shift Is Happening
Australia recently passed a law requiring platforms to delay social media access until age 16, verify user age, and protect kids' best interests.
The U.S. should do the same.
What You Can Do
Read the article: “Ban Kids from Social Media? Yes, Absolutely.”
Share it with other parents, teachers, principals, school board members, PTAs and leaders who care about kids’ mental health
Start the conversation: What age should kids be allowed to join social media? And what responsibility do tech companies have to protect our kids?
Join the Slow-Tech Parenting Movement
At the Center for Online Safety, we believe in Slow-Tech Parenting, an approach that delays tech exposure, builds real-world skills first, and gives families space to stay connected offline. Every small shift counts. And this article? It’s a great place to start.
Ready to host a community conversation or parent education night?