Why We Should Ban Teens from Social Media

Since a few weeks ago, I’ve noticed Meta’s persistent advertising on my LinkedIn profile, proudly announcing their new Instagram "teen accounts," supposedly equipped with safety measures to allow kids to access their platform "safely."

Setting aside the irony that these ads target users without teenagers, what truly alarms me is how we, as a society, have come to accept that our children—the people most dear to us—are allowed on platforms proven by research to cause them harm. The very existence of these “safety measures” raises the question: if these platforms are safe, why do they need added layers of protection in the first place?

In a world where technology shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, social media has become one of the most powerful forces influencing young minds. Yet, with great power comes profound risk—especially for teenagers at a pivotal stage of psychological and emotional development.

As a parent and a futurist deeply engaged with emerging technologies, I worry about the long-term impact of social media and AI platforms on the younger generation. We’ve seen how these platforms, driven by relentless competition and short-term profit motives, manipulate attention, cultivate addictive behaviors, and expose users to a steady stream of misinformation and unrealistic portrayals of reality.

This digital era has undoubtedly brought unparalleled access to information. Yet, it has also left teens vulnerable to a barrage of content—and to online bullying by peers—that they may not be prepared to navigate or confront.

Adding fuel to the fire, we’re now granting teenagers access to AI tools like Character.ai, which amplify these issues. These AI agents, designed to say whatever pleases the user, risk reinforcing harmful behaviors, including suicides and fostering unrealistic emotional dependencies. It’s not surprising that we’re now seeing a global loneliness epidemic among teens, exacerbated by platforms that encourage isolated, screen-based interaction over genuine human connection. The time to act isn’t just overdue; it’s critical.

Profound Misalignment

I’ve spent years analyzing how AI, the metaverse, and other disruptive technologies impact society, and the direction we’re heading is troubling. It is striking that the platforms designed to connect and entertain are built on business models that prioritize profit over the well-being of users, especially young ones. Big Tech companies have perfected methods of capturing our attention and monetizing engagement, often disregarding the collateral damage on mental health, social development, and even safety.

This is not a matter of a few isolated cases; it’s a widespread crisis that reflects a profound misalignment between corporate interests and societal responsibility. While these platforms generate billions in revenue, they do so at the expense of the mental health and resilience of the next generation.

Every feature, every notification, and every algorithm is optimized to keep users engaged, while the consequences—cyberbullying, self-esteem issues, and addictive behavior—are overlooked and ignored.

The repercussions of this profit-driven model are undeniable. As social media giants profit from maximizing engagement, they wield a powerful influence over society’s youngest and most vulnerable members, often with little accountability. This is more than a conflict of interests; it’s a fundamental clash between the relentless pursuit of shareholder value and our collective responsibility to safeguard young people’s mental health and development.

We Stand at a Crossroads in Society

Each passing day that we fail to address this misalignment is another day we place profits over people, risking the mental well-being and future potential of an entire generation. Given this reality, we stand at a crucial juncture—one where we must decide whether to allow Big Tech to continue unchecked or take concrete action to protect teenagers from a digital world rife with potential dangers. 

My answer is simple: no, of course, we should not let teenagers roam unchecked on social media or use AI tools without limitations, let alone without education. Just as we prevent teens from gambling, smoking, and drinking, recognizing the severe negative impact these activities can have on their developing brains, we must consider the effects of social media and AI with the same level of caution.

Teenagers are uniquely vulnerable to addiction and impulsive behavior, with severe consequences if these habits take hold. Research shows that their brains are still forming critical structures for judgment, self-control, and emotional regulation, making them more prone to addiction and risky behaviors than adults. Young people’s underdeveloped prefrontal cortex impacts their decision-making and heightens their susceptibility to addiction.

This means that social media and new AI tools such as Character.ai, which exploits dopamine-driven reward cycles similar to gambling, pose a significant risk. Allowing unrestricted access could be seen as irresponsible, given the data: in much the same way that chronic substance use affects young brains, prolonged exposure to social media can alter neurological development, leaving lasting impacts on mental health and well-being.

The question, then, is not whether we should limit online access to these tools for teens but rather how and when we will finally enforce such boundaries to foster a healthier, more resilient future generation.

Banning Teens from Social Media

While it may be extreme to ban teenagers from using the internet altogether, we must think carefully about which technologies they’re exposed to and how they’re educated on their usage. This is a delicate balance. Should we allow unrestricted access to tools like Character.ai, where young people can form emotional attachments with AI—sometimes leading to tragic outcomes—while restricting access to tools like ChatGPT or Claude, as some universities do? Where do we draw the line?

The most critical step is education. Teens need to understand both the benefits and risks of social media, AI, gaming platforms, and the internet at large before we let them dive in. Just as we don’t let teenagers drive until they earn a license at 18, why shouldn’t we apply similar caution to technologies that impact their mental health, social development, and even their sense of self?

A straightforward solution would be to ban all teenagers from social media and place accountability squarely on platform owners and directors. Failure to comply would result in severe penalties, as seen in China, where gaming companies are required to limit children’s game time. If China can enforce such protections for children, why can’t we?

Some argue that social media and internet access are beneficial for young people. But this is a weak argument. Generations before social media—Boomers, Gen X, Millennials —grew up without it (myself included) and still developed resilience, creativity, and social skills. Research shows that the benefits of unstructured play and time outdoors far outweigh the limited positives social media offers young people, despite the platform owners’ claims to the contrary. 

Big Tech, meanwhile, isn't concerned with our society's well-being. They focus on short-term shareholder profits and capturing lifelong users from a young age. We’ve seen repeated cases of Meta and YouTube pushing ads to teenagers, ignoring the ethical implications in favor of revenue. This divergence between Big Tech’s interests and societal values is stark—and we must act decisively, especially as tech companies wield vast resources to influence policy. 

There’s no reason to delay banning social media for anyone under 16 worldwide. Schools that have restricted smartphone use report that teenagers express relief, finally freed from the constant pull of their devices. Teenagers know these tools are addictive and damaging, but the social pressures to stay connected make them difficult to avoid.

The stakes are high. Apart from screen addiction, cyberbullying, for instance, has devastating effects on mental health. Victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to self-harm or consider suicide, with at least three young Australians taking their lives each week due to online harassment. This issue isn’t limited to Australia, and it’s encouraging to see the country is taking steps toward banning social media access for teens. But global action is necessary to protect our youth.

Ultimately, the question isn't why we should restrict teens from social media—it's why we've allowed Big Tech's profits to take precedence over safeguarding the next generation. As a society, we owe our young people the chance to grow up free from the pressures of a digital landscape designed to exploit, addict, and ultimately profit from them. The time to act is now.

How to Move Forward

We’re at a point where decisive action is not just preferable—it’s essential. First and foremost, my suggestion is straightforward: ban all teenagers from social media and make owners and directors personally accountable for enforcing it.

Non-compliance should come with severe penalties—significant fines, even jail time if necessary. If personal consequences loom, companies will act swiftly to enforce these changes. Yes, there will likely be a hit to market prices initially, but in a society moving toward digital and AI-driven environments, this will be a mere blip. The long-term benefits, for both individuals and society, vastly outweigh any short-term impact on Big Tech's bottom line and a few thousand shareholders.

But regulation and enforcement alone isn’t enough. The second critical piece is education—constant, consistent education—well before we ever let teenagers onto these platforms or grant them access to AI agents. This digital literacy must start early, ingraining a sense of caution and awareness that matches the pace at which these technologies evolve. We often assume today’s youth are “digital natives,” but being comfortable online doesn’t equate to true digital awareness.

Our educational approach must evolve beyond basic tech literacy. We need to prioritize understanding the ethical, social, and political implications of our digital footprint and make data rights a core part of that curriculum. Doing so empowers the next generation to make informed, responsible decisions about their engagement with digital tools, social media and AI.

With this foundation of digital awareness, individuals will be equipped to “vote” with their data, insist on transparency and accountability from tech giants, and actively participate in shaping a fair and equitable digital future. This isn’t optional—if we want a society that leverages social media, AI and digital advancements for good, we must prepare the people who will inherit it.

Shaping Our Digital Future

The stakes couldn't be higher as we stand on the edge of a fully digital society. The decisions we make now about social media, AI, and the digital platforms that shape our lives will determine the future of technology and an entire generation. Allowing Big Tech to operate unchecked, especially when it concerns young people, is a gamble we can no longer afford. For too long, we've tolerated a status quo where profit trumps public good, and young minds are sacrificed for shareholder returns. It’s time to reverse that trend.

Banning teenagers from social media, holding tech executives accountable, and implementing robust digital education are not just solutions; they are essential steps toward a responsible digital age. If we prioritize these steps, we're setting healthier boundaries and building a society that values informed, digitally aware citizens over passive consumers.

There's no doubt that the future will be digital, but it's up to us to shape it. We must choose a path that protects the mental and emotional health of the next generation, arming them with the awareness and resilience to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape. In doing so, we're not just managing risk; we're building a legacy—one where technology serves humanity, not vice versa.