Is 16 the right global floor for social media access?
A long thread debates whether nations should set 16 as the minimum age for social-media accounts, sparked by Australia’s and Europe’s moves toward age verification. Proponents argue age gates could limit teen exposure to addictive algorithms and mental-health harms; opponents warn it could block educational access (like YouTube), intrude on privacy via digital-ID schemes, and be difficult to enforce. Many advocate for stronger parental controls and alternative, less intrusive solutions, while others fear censorship and a slippery slope, leaving the policy question open with different global approaches and trade-offs.
