Recently, the Prime Minister of Quebec compared screens and social networks to… drugs. According to him, you can become addicted to it. He would therefore like the government to study the impact of TikTok and Instagram, among others, on young people. One of the questions he asks is this: should they be banned for under 16s? We’ll summarize the situation for you.
You probably already know: you must be at least 13 years old to create an account on most social media. But the Quebec government would like to go further.
On May 25, Prime Minister François Legault expressed his concern. “It scares me, it creates significant mental health problems among young people,” he said. He therefore wants to ask all Quebec political parties and experts to assess whether these platforms are dangerous for you.
They could also consider the possibility of banning social networks for under 16s. You know what ? This idea comes… from young people! Yes, yes, it was the youth section of François Legault’s party that made this request.
Young people + social networks = crazy love
With the help of a company called Léger, The Aces of Info conducted a survey of 8 to 12 year olds. We learned that one in four 8-year-olds has at least one account on a social network. Among those aged 12 and over, that’s 8 out of 10 young people!
OK, but what do the experts say?
Are these platforms really dangerous for your health? The short answer: yes. But…
According to a Quebec study, the more a teenager uses social networks, the worse their mental health is. We are talking about anxiety, depression and eating disorders, among other things. Another study from England indicates that these platforms have an even greater negative effect on girls.
But other experts also speak of positive effects. For example, these platforms allow us to express ourselves and communicate with our loved ones.
And elsewhere in the world?
The idea of imposing a minimum age to use TikTok or Instagram is not new! In France, you must be at least 15 years old to open an account on a social network. In Florida, children under 14 are prohibited from using these platforms.
Camille Lopez
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