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Social media bans for minors spread as early data shows widespread workarounds

Illustration accompanying article: Social media bans for minors spread as early data shows widespread workarounds
  • More than 20 countries have enacted or proposed bans restricting minors from social media platforms, with Australia first to enforce its December 2025 law on children under 16 and the United Kingdom following shortly after.
  • YouTube and Meta have paid out or settled more than $17 billion this year in lawsuits alleging the platforms deliberately targeted children and misled the public about safety, including an August 2026 Meta settlement with a group of states for $17 billion.
  • Australia's safety commissioner reported 7 in 10 children with restricted-platform accounts retained them, and more than 80% of Australian teens ages 10 to 15 still use social media frequently; early evidence from the ban shows roughly 61% of children ages 12 to 15 continue accessing the platforms via false IDs, altered appearances or virtual private networks.
  • Some researchers argue social media bans resemble age restrictions on alcohol or cigarettes, but Lightman and others note the platforms provide global connectivity, community-building, self-expression and civic engagement, especially for teens disconnected from local communities.
  • Carnegie Mellon professor Ari Lightman said "there isn't clear evidence that spending time on these platforms is the main cause of their mental health problems," recommending safety-by-default standards over outright bans.
 2026-10-16 · 6 MIN READ

Meta oversight board orders two deepfake removals, finds safeguards inadequate

Illustration accompanying article: Meta oversight board orders two deepfake removals, finds safeguards inadequate
  • Meta's oversight board ordered the company to remove two deepfake videos from Facebook and said the platform's AI deepfake safeguards are "consistently and fundamentally inadequate."
  • The board ruled Meta wrongly left up an AI-generated video falsely depicting a Scottish Labour councillor making inflammatory claims about refugees and should have labeled the content "high risk."
  • The board also ordered removal of AI-manipulated videos mocking a young Muslim campaign volunteer, which it said received tens of millions of views online, including on Meta platforms.
  • The board issued nine policy recommendations, including algorithmic demotion of "high risk" content and click-through warning screens before AI-generated material can be viewed.
  • Oversight board co-chair Pamela San Martin said AI deepfakes are increasingly being used to harass and silence women engaged in public discourse.
 2026-09-17 · 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: US schools, police warn of viral Cat in the Hat trend after teen arrests