By: Ilina Kabra
Illustration by: Paavas Bansal
“What can states do to improve protections for children on social media?” is the number one question stumping renowned mental health professionals globally. In an era where children and adolescents are encompassed by the digital landscape from an increasingly young age, social media has become a pressing concern for policymakers, parents, and educators. Platforms, particularly Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, have reshaped how young people interact with the world, exposing them to risks that were unimaginable just a decade ago.
One of the primary challenges in safeguarding children online lies in the ease with which they can circumvent age restrictions. Most major social media platforms set a minimum age of 13 for account creation, but this barrier is easily bypassed by falsifying birth dates during registration. Shockingly, research shows that children as young as eight are adept at manipulating and bypassing these systems to gain unrestricted access to platforms designed for older users (Ofcom). This raises critical questions about the effectiveness of current age verification methods and calls for innovative solutions to ensure compliance.
Although recent measures, including a complete ban on social media for kids under 13, have been implemented by countries such as Australia and Norway (Reuters), the effectiveness of these measures hinges on international and industry cooperation and compliance. The global nature of social media, exemplified by platforms like TikTok, introduces additional challenges. Despite regulatory efforts in some jurisdictions, the widespread use of virtual private networks (VPNs) renders many geographical restrictions moot. This technological workaround allows users, including minors, to mask their true locations and access content without regard for regional regulations.
To address these loopholes effectively, a coordinated approach involving governments, tech companies, and international bodies is essential. This includes fostering dialogue to establish uniform standards for age verification, enhancing cybersecurity measures to detect and prevent VPN usage, and promoting digital literacy programs that educate young users about responsible online behavior.
Moreover, there is growing advocacy for government intervention through regulation and taxation of social media companies. My proposed solution involves introducing a nominal credit-card based fee for creating accounts on social media platforms, particularly Instagram. Implementing a small annual user fee, say £2 per social media account, would generate substantial revenue. Additionally, a significant portion of these funds should specifically be earmarked for the much needed funding to support and carry out research on the impact of social media on mental health. By allocating 75% of this fee to government-funded research initiatives, policymakers can gain insights, collect data, and facilitate future studies into the psychological and developmental effects of prolonged social media use among minors. Such critical research yields developing evidence-based policies that promote safer online environments for young users. More importantly, however, this approach also provides a mechanism for parental oversight. By requiring a credit card payment, platforms like Instagram could notify parents when their child attempts to register, thereby notifying them of their online activities. This simple yet effective measure could significantly reduce the number of underage accounts, and invite parents to engage more actively in their children’s digital lives.
While the question of protecting children and adolescents on social media remains complex, it is not insurmountable. By combining technological innovation with regulatory oversight and educational initiatives, we can create a safer digital environment for the next generation. This approach requires proactive engagement from all stakeholders to uphold children’s rights to privacy, safety, and healthy development in an increasingly connected world. Only through collaborative efforts can we effectively address the challenges posed by social media and ensure that young users can navigate digital spaces securely and responsibly.
