Should there be age limits on social media? It’s a difficult decision

The seven members of Harbingers’ Editorial Board discuss the pros and cons of banning social media for teens

Australia has already passed a ban on social media for under-16s, despite Meta’s efforts to launch “teen accounts” with close parental supervision, leading to debates in other countries such as the UK as to whether or not they should do the same.

As Harbingers’ Magazine’s Editorial Board, we have discussed the topic among ourselves. We find ourselves in a similar position to other teens around the world as well as adults in governing bodies that are making these decisions: we are torn. We can see both strong pros and cons in social media and its influence on young people, making us ambivalent about what is the right course of action.

We know social media is crucial to keeping up with pop culture, which is something many teenagers find entertaining. Not only does social media use allow their viewers to share their own milestone events, but they also allow them to keep up with the releases of their favourite artists and actors, as well as influencers’ everyday lives.

The connection built between celebrities through social media allows people to feel as though they share a community with the celeb.

Additionally, teenagers deserve to explore, even if it’s not entirely good for them. That’s just something we all have to experience – and the sooner, the better.

It would be nearly impossible to completely omit social media from teens’ lives, as it is no longer just a source of information, but a gateway to belonging.

It’s easy to focus on the chaos of social media, but for many teenagers, it’s also where their creativity blossoms when a healthy balance is kept. Individuals our age are starting their own small businesses from the ground up, using their laptops and phones to sell digital art, handmade jewellery, thrifted clothing and more.

What started as casual side hobbies have become full-on ventures. And going viral isn’t the only goal. Social media helps teen creators find communities, spot trends and actually sell what they make. Some platforms are even adding shopping features to support that. TikTok and Instagram have introduced built-in storefronts and marketplaces to help young sellers.

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American teen entrepreneur Fiona Frillsis a great example. She started on YouTube and built a teen skincare brand called Frilliance,based on what her followers shared about their skin struggles. But it’s become more than a brand. It’s a space where other teens can earn money, learn to sell, and feel part of something that truly understands them. In her own words: “My customers and followers are more than just those titles – we’re building a community around my personal brand and business.”

Banning under-16s from social media risks cutting them off from valuable tools and learning skills. In 2023, more than half of Gen Z entrepreneurssaid their business is their primary source of income, with teens playing an increasingly significant role in the digital creator economy.

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But, the original use of social media was to create a sense of community, allowing individuals to connect with friends, family and colleagues. It can be viewed as a place for people with similar interests and thoughts to share their opinions and build connections. If used responsibly, teenagers are given the opportunity to discover individuality and new interests, especially those from isolated or close-minded environments.

Of course, the benefits of age limits are not insignificant. How many times do you think 10-, 12-, or even 15-year-olds compare themselves absentmindedly to those in their twenties online?

Those are adults, and the ones who try to “compete” with them or aspire to be like them are still in development – a comparison that is unhealthy.The way it affects teen’s self-esteem is unprecedented.

To that we can add that one of social media’s biggest threats is the spread of misinformation that is harmful to teens or those around them. Poor media literacy and the inability to distinguish between real and fake news makes many young people susceptible to misinformation. This can heavily influence their attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and social interactions.

Social media algorithms are designed to prompt content that aligns with a user’s beliefs, usually based on their level of interaction with a post. Thus these algorithms exclude or discredit content that opposes the user’s views, which is incredibly harmful as it reinforces one’s biases, creating an “echo chamber”. As a consequence, social media accelerates the radicalisation of youth by constantly exposing them to extremist or unregulated content.

As news editors, we find positive benefits that make social media a valuable asset. Setting harsh age restrictions could lead to negative consequences such as losing connection to online communities, business opportunities and enjoying peoples’ creative outlets.

However, we recognise the threats of social media for teens, leading us to not be fully opposed to harsher age limits, especially for younger teens and children from Gen Alpha. So, if we who live and breathe social media are uncertain about what to do, then it makes a lot of sense for politicians and parents to be torn too. We are just going to have to wait and see.

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The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board of Harbingers’ Magazine is led by the Editor-in-chief, who oversees the magazine’s overall publishing, and Section Editors responsible for its core sections: Culture, Economics, Human Rights, Politics, Science, and Society.

The 2025 board began its term on March 1 and will manage the magazine until the end of February 2026.

Meet the team.

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