France and Britain consider a social media ban for children as experts debate mental health impacts and the effectiveness of such measures

France and Britain are considering following Australia’s lead by restricting social media use for children and some teenagers, though experts remain divided on its effectiveness.

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Australia last month became the first country to prohibit people under 16 from using platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

France is debating a similar ban for under-15s, with proposals championed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Supporters of a ban argue it is necessary to address worsening mental health among young people.

American psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, has advised UK officials, claiming excessive social media rewires children’s brains and fuels mental illness.

Critics, however, question the evidence. Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers said Haidt’s claims are “not supported by science,” while studies from Australia and elsewhere suggest only small, cumulative effects on wellbeing.

Michael Noetel of the University of Queensland noted that social media can harm adolescents, particularly girls, but acknowledged the research is nuanced.

“My read is that Haidt is more right than his harshest critics admit, and less right than his book implies,” he said, calling a cautious ban “a bet worth making.”

Research highlights a U-shaped pattern: both heavy users and those entirely deprived of social media experience poorer wellbeing.

Moderate use appears safest, especially for boys and older teens, according to studies published in JAMA Pediatrics.

French public health watchdog ANSES recently warned that social media negatively affects adolescents but is not the sole cause of mental health decline.

Psychiatrist Serge Tisseron called platforms “appallingly toxic” but cautioned that bans could be easily bypassed by tech-savvy teens and reduce parental responsibility.

Experts such as Cambridge University researcher Amy Orben recommend a cautious approach, monitoring Australia’s ban for insights before adopting similar measures in Europe.

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Australian authorities report blocking 4.7 million accounts for under-16s since the policy began.