New restrictions on teenage social media platforms 

Its no douth that social media platforms have major effects on teenagers. And while they have some benefits, the threats are drastic.

Young adults dominate social media. Studies show that millennials are the most active group on social media, while younger generations, like Gen Z, are reported to spend the most time on social media. More than half of teens between the ages of 13-17 were reported to use social media apps. Concerns have risen for both the government and parents on the importance of protecting teens from the negative aspects of social media.

Of teens between the ages of 13-17, studies show 63% use TikTok, 60% are on Snapchat, 59% are on Instagram, and an overwhelming 93% of teens use YouTube. Many social media apps restrict access to users under the age of 13. In contrast, statistics reveal that approximately 47 percent of preteens, typically those aged 11 to 12, use TikTok, while 31 percent use Snapchat in the United States. These social platforms are tolerant of cyberbullying, Often displaying inappropriate content and allowing contact with strangers that can lead to consequences. These include hate Speech in comment sections, unintended explicit imagery, and sometimes resulting in the consequence of human trafficking, etc.

Some steps have been implemented in an endeavor to prevent these consequences by censoring teens’  feeds. Many ongoing debates argue that censoring teens’ feeds restricts them from accessing important sensitive information. Meta recently implemented changes and introduced an Instagram teen account, which will provide more age-appropriate content. According to Meta, Teen Accounts will limit who can contact teens and the content they see, and Teens under 16 will need a parent’s permission to change any of the built-in protections. Many other companies as well including TikTok made changes to become more teen-friendly.

DBHS student Marthe Eldine said, “It’s a good idea to censor teens’ feeds because there are some types of stuff that are popping up on their feeds that are only for adults, not kids.”

Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace and with it new social platforms are created to meet the new needs and desires of people. And as teenagers continue to play an important role, it’s imperative to understand how social media affects teens and what precautions must be taken to keep the social world age-appropriate.

Written by Widelandine Emilcar  | Graphic Designed by Widelandine Emilcar 

Published Janaury 6, 2025 | ePathfinder | Feature