56% of US Adults Support Ban on Social Media for Under-16s

A majority of American adults support banning children under the age of 16 from using social media, according to a new national survey. The findings reveal broad, bipartisan backing for stricter youth protections online as governments worldwide enact or consider similar restrictions.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center from May 26 to July 1, 2026, found 56% of U.S. adults in favor of such a ban, with only 21% opposed and 23% unsure. Support is strongest among parents of children under 18, with 65% in favor. The idea finds majority support across all major age groups and partisan lines, with 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 54% of Democrats and Democratic leaners supporting it.

The data arrives amid growing policy debates over online safety and mental health impacts on young people. There is strong evidence that social media use by children and teenagers can be harmful, with risks including exposure to unrealistic body images, cyberbullying, and posts about self-harm. In response, numerous countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, have...