Social Media Under Scrutiny: Health Warnings and Anticipated Legislation to Protect Teenagers
The French Agency for Health Security (ANSES) has confirmed that excessive use of social media has clear negative effects on the mental health of teenagers, with girls experiencing more severe impacts. This comes as France moves towards tightening legal restrictions on minors' access to these widely used digital platforms.
This warning follows the publication of the results of a comprehensive scientific review conducted by public health experts, within a growing international context of a radical reassessment of the relationship between children and adolescents and social media. These developments coincide with unprecedented steps, most notably Australia's recent decision to become the first country in the world to ban platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for those under 16. Other countries, including France, are considering adopting similar measures.
Five Years of Research… and Worrying Results
The French Agency for Health Security (ANSEJ), in its report—the culmination of five years of work by a multidisciplinary scientific committee—explained that while social media cannot be considered the sole cause of declining mental health among adolescents, it is a significant contributing factor to the exacerbation of psychological and behavioral problems.
The report emphasized that the negative effects of these platforms are “numerous and scientifically documented,” a finding that aligns with the conclusions of studies published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as research published in prestigious medical journals, including The Lancet Psychiatry.
French Legislation Under Discussion
In light of these findings, France is currently debating two draft laws, one of which has the direct support of President Emmanuel Macron. These laws aim to prohibit the use of social media by children under 15, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the protection of minors in the digital space and address the growing psychological and social repercussions of uncontrolled technology use.
Addressing the Root Causes of the Problem Instead of Superficial Solutions
In its recommendations, the agency stressed the need to address the root causes of the problem, calling for ensuring that children and adolescents have access only to social networks “designed and equipped to protect their mental health.” According to the report, this means obligating companies that own digital platforms to make fundamental changes to:
- Personalization algorithms
- Digital persuasion techniques
- Default settings that encourage excessive use
These demands align with previous recommendations from the European Parliament and digital regulatory bodies, which called for a reset of the relationship between minor users and digital platforms.
A Thousand Scientific Studies Paint a Clearer Picture
The head of the expert committee, Olivia Roth-Delgado, stated at a press conference that this study “provides a solid scientific basis for the ongoing debate about the impact of social networks in recent years,” explaining that it was based on a review of nearly a thousand scientific studies that addressed the psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of social media use.
Echo Bubbles, Bullying, and Psychological Pressures
The agency warned that social media platforms contribute to creating “unprecedented echo bubbles,” reinforcing stereotypes, encouraging risky behaviors, and exacerbating cyberbullying. These findings are corroborated by numerous studies conducted by American and European universities on the relationship between digital algorithms and adolescent behavior.
The report also indicated that trending content on these platforms often promotes unrealistic images of beauty through digitally altered photos, leading to low self-esteem, especially among girls, and increasing the risk of depression and eating disorders—warnings previously issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Girls at the Forefront… and Doubled Impacts
The agency pointed out that girls, who use social media at higher rates than boys, face double the social and psychological pressures associated with gender stereotypes, making them more vulnerable to negative effects on their mental health.
Tech Companies' Objections and Escalating Controversy
Meanwhile, the American tech giant Meta called on Australian authorities to reconsider their decision to ban social media for children under 16, announcing that it had disabled more than 544,000 accounts in compliance with the new law.
The company justified its position by citing concerns expressed by parents and technology experts that a blanket ban would isolate young people from their digital communities and push them toward less regulated and more dangerous platforms—concerns echoed in reports from independent digital research centers.
Artificial Intelligence Fuels Concerns
In the same vein, Elon Musk's X platform is facing increasing international criticism for allowing the use of its AI-powered chatbot, Grok, to generate sexually explicit images of women and children through simple text commands. This has reignited calls for stricter oversight of generative AI tools, according to warnings from human rights organizations and child protection agencies.
