Poor social media impact on impressive teenage minds are already well known. Let it be a screen dependence on connection all day, developing problems with body image, or faced with serious anxiety and depression caused by cyber and permanent social comparison, the negative impact of social media is anxiety. This made many advocate for limiting the use of social media to protect the mental health of adolescents.
A step in this direction by Virginia Governor Glen Yankkin has signed a bill aimed at limiting how much time the children can spend on these platforms.
Also read: Screens and teens: Loneliness to the intrusive
What is the new bill?
According to the Fox 5 report, the bill is an amendment to the Law on Consumer Data Protection, which limits minors up to 16 to just an hour of using social media per day on each platform. CAP time is strictly controlled by limiting the use of social media for teenagers just one hour. Parents can monitor the use of social media, as only with their consent can it be reduced or increased on screen.
The amendment also establishes a rule for social media platforms to ask for a user’s age, that is, without pushing them to give a specific answer. In addition, any data that will only be used for age checking.
Teens and screen addiction
Earlier, a study of February 2025, published in social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, showed how serious mental health conditions are related to the long hours of social media consumption among adolescents. This is quite anxious, as in the case of widespread use of social media related to behavioral problems, such as enhancing manic symptoms, problematic screen use and sleep disturbance.
Dr. Jason Nagata, pediatrician of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and the lead author of the study, said: “Politicians need to consider a tick as a systemic problem of social media and create effective measures that protect children on the Internet.”
Also read: Kids glued to screens? The expert shares a detailed guidance for parents to encourage healthy technological habits
Note for readers: This article is intended only for information purposes rather than to replace professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a doctor with any medical issues.
