Australian, US Parents Support a Social Media Ban but Their Children Don’t, New Study Finds
There are areas of agreement across the age divide, including support for teen-specific privacy protections and opposition to smartphone use in classrooms.
A teenager holds a mobile phone displaying a message from social media platform Instagram after the account was locked for age verification in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
A new survey conducted in the United States and Australia reveals sharp generational divides in support for an under-16 social media ban and in beliefs about government enforcement.
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) commissioned Ipsos to interview 4,000 parents and children aged 10 to 17.
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
