Majority of Americans support banning social media for under 16 users, as California tightens regulations

EdSource· July 13, 2026

A majority of Americans now support banning social media access for children under the age of 16, reflecting growing public concern over online safety. This trend coincides with California's move to tighten regulations on digital platforms to better protect younger demographics. For the social media sector, these developments signal a potential shift toward more restrictive age-verification requirements and increased compliance costs.

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