A new poll from the National Parents Union (NPU) found a growing concern for the negative effects of social media consumption.
That survey found 83 percent of parents believe there should be a minimum age restriction for when kids can have their own social media account.
Most social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) require their users to be at least 13. Out of more than 1,200 parents polled, 20 percent found this to be the appropriate age restriction for children having their own social media accounts. Slightly less (16 percent) believe that age should be 16.
Additionally, exposure to inappropriate content was the biggest concern for parents at 63 percent, followed by exposure to predators at 60 percent, and cyberbullying at 57 percent.
“Every minute a child spends on social media they could be exposed to inappropriate content, bullying or mental health triggers – and they’re looking for effective policy solutions to help them navigate these new challenges,” said NPU president Keri Rodriguez.
Cellphone usage among kids
The NPU poll found parents view cellphone usage as a separate issue from social media usage, that needs to be addressed differently.
Of those polled, 57 percent believe there should be an age restriction for when children receive their own cellphone compared to 33 percent who oppose an age restriction.
For school usage, few parents believe schools should outright ban cellphones.
According to the poll, parents believe there should be cellphone policies in place that limit phone usage to avoid distractions. Banning cellphones during class but allowing them outside of class at certain times proved popular for 79 percent of parents.
Those “allowed times” could include things like lunch or recess, after school activities, and for approved academic purposes. 59 percent of parents also believed that students should be allowed to keep their phones in their backpack or school bag so long as they keep them on silent and don’t take them out.
“It’s 2024 – and all families rely on cell phones to stay connected and communicate now more than ever. Whether it’s connecting in case of an emergency, planning after school logistics or even if a child is feeling anxious about an issue in school and needs positive reinforcement or advice – it’s clear that parents want to be able to have clear and open channels of communication with their own children. Banning cell phones outright in school or treating them like contraband instead of using effective classroom management is entirely unreasonable and not grounded in the reality we will live in,” said Rodriguez.
The National Parents Union is a parent-led network of organizations and activists that works to advocate for policies and initiatives that support families and support educational equity.
