A new survey indicates that a majority of Americans prefer children to be off social media until they are 16 years old.

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      According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, there is significant support for prohibiting social media use for individuals under the age of 16, with even greater endorsement for rules regarding age verification and parental consent.

      A majority of adults in the United States now support a ban on social media for anyone under 16, as revealed by a recent Pew Research Center survey. This finding aligns American public opinion with countries that have already implemented similar measures, such as Australia, which has enacted a ban, and the UK, which is contemplating one.

      Support spans across political parties and age demographics

      Pew conducted a survey with 9,750 US adults from May 26 to June 1, 2026, discovering that 56 percent of participants backed a ban on social media usage for those under 16. In contrast, only 21 percent were opposed, while 23 percent expressed uncertainty.

      According to the Pew Research Center, both Republicans and Democrats showed comparable support for the ban, and approval remained above 50 percent across all age groups. Those aged 30 to 49 were the most likely to support such a ban, alongside parents of children under 18. Even adults without children in that age group showed favorable opinions, though their support was less pronounced.

      Less drastic measures received higher approval than an outright ban

      The survey indicated that there was more support for restrictions than for a total ban. Approximately 85 percent of adults favored requiring parental consent before a minor could create a social media account, an increase from 81 percent in 2023 when Pew last posed the question.

      The Pew Research Center also found that support for age verification and daily time limits for minors both stood in the high 70s, with the approval for age verification increasing from 71 percent to 78 percent during that timeframe. However, support levels varied by age group; adults under 30 favored age verification at a lower rate than their older counterparts, approximately two-thirds compared to around 80 percent among individuals 30 and older.

      Whether a ban would sufficiently reduce social media usage among children under 16 is still uncertain. Australia's prohibition on under-16s has encountered enforcement challenges since its implementation, with tests indicating that many teenagers continue to circumvent the restrictions. In the US, there is currently no federal ban in place, though several states, including California, have introduced similar proposals. With public opinion so strongly leaning in favor, it seems likely that US lawmakers will eventually address this issue.

      Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years of experience covering consumer technology. His work has been…

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