Should Kids Under 16 Be BANNED From Social Media? Parents vs Kids | LIVE DEBATE

Should kids under 16 be banned from social media? California just made the debate even bigger. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of new laws aimed at protecting children from potential harms involving social media, artificial intelligence and AI chatbots. One major measure targets addictive social-media features such as infinite scroll and algorithmic autoplay for users under 16. So now we’re asking the question EVERY parent, teenager, teacher and social-media user can debate: SHOULD SOCIAL MEDIA BE 16+? Tonight we’re LIVE discussing TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, X, AI chatbots, smartphones, screen time, algorithms, parental controls, age verification, online privacy and whether government — or parents — should decide when children are ready for social media. And this debate is already global. Australia’s social-media minimum-age rules require age-restricted platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. Platforms covered include TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, X, Reddit, Twitch, Threads and others. That raises even bigger questions: Should America follow Australia? Should TikTok be 16+? Should Instagram be 16+? Should YouTube accounts be 16+? Are smartphones hurting childhood? Is infinite scrolling addictive? Should parents control children’s screen time instead of government? Should social-media companies be responsible for protecting minors? Should teenagers have complete online privacy from their parents? Should parents be allowed to check their child’s phone? Should schools ban smartphones? Should children have access to AI chatbots? Should platforms have to verify everybody’s age? Could age verification create new privacy problems? Are algorithms keeping children online too long? Is social media helping young people connect — or doing more harm than good? PARENTS, TEENS, TEACHERS, CONTENT CREATORS AND EVERYBODY WHO USES SOCIAL MEDIA — JOIN THE CONVERSATION. Vote in the LIVE polls. Comment your opinion. Challenge somebody else’s argument respectfully. Like the Live if you enjoy the debate. Subscribe for more breaking topics, real conversations and LIVE discussions. Share this Live with a parent, teenager, teacher or somebody who completely disagrees with you. If you’re enjoying the conversation and want to support the Live, gifts are appreciated but never required. Watching, liking, sharing, subscribing and participating in the discussion supports the channel too. TONIGHT’S BIG QUESTION: WHO SHOULD DECIDE WHEN A CHILD CAN USE SOCIAL MEDIA? THE GOVERNMENT? THE PARENTS? THE SOCIAL-MEDIA PLATFORM? OR THE CHILD? Join the debate. social media ban • social media ban for kids • social media under 16 • should kids be banned from social media • social media age limit • social media age verification • California social media law • California social media law 2026 • Gavin Newsom social media • California kids social media • kids social media law • social media laws 2026 • social media regulation • children online safety • child online safety • internet safety for kids • digital safety • parental controls • parenting in 2026 • kids and smartphones • smartphone ban for kids • school phone ban • screen time for kids • social media addiction • infinite scroll • social media algorithms • algorithm addiction • TikTok age limit • TikTok for kids • Instagram age limit • Instagram for kids • YouTube age limit • Snapchat age limit • Facebook age limit • X age limit • AI for children • AI chatbots for kids • AI safety • AI parental controls • online privacy • children privacy online • age verification privacy • parents vs kids • parents checking kids phones • should parents check kids phones • teen privacy • Australia social media ban • Australia under 16 social media • America social media ban • should America ban social media for kids