Should We Block Social Media for Young Children—or Teach Them to Navigate It Safely?

In today’s hyper-connected world, the age at which children receive their first smartphone is steadily decreasing. Many parents find themselves wrestling with the dilemma: Should my young child be allowed to use social media, or is it better to block it altogether? While the common recommendation is to postpone buying that first phone for as long as possible, it’s also clear that digital devices—and the social platforms that come with them—are integral parts of modern life. Peer pressure plays a significant role: when the rest of the class already has phones, both parents and children can feel pressured into joining the digital realm sooner than they might otherwise wish.

Growing awareness of the potential harms to children on social media—ranging from cyberbullying to exposure to inappropriate content or even predatory behavior—has led many governments to explore regulatory and legislative solutions. These include imposing age restrictions on social platforms or creating educational resources for parents.

• Greece, for example, developed an informational website for parents, highlighting the dangers children might face online. However, the country’s approach directs parents to use Google’s Family Link or Apple’s Screen Time, which focuses primarily on blocking or limiting access to apps. While these tools can help manage screen time, they don’t fully address more insidious issues like grooming, predatory contact, or sustained digital bullying.
• Florida, in the United States, has introduced a law that bans children under 14 from using social media. Yet, past experiences on similar platforms have shown that children often sidestep age restrictions by simply falsifying their birthdates—rendering the legislation far less effective in practice.

Banning children from using social platforms might seem like a straightforward way to keep them safe. In reality, blocking can backfire for several reasons:

1. Risk of Unregulated Platforms: When blocked from well-known social networks, children may seek out lesser-known or newer platforms that are even less regulated, meaning parents lose what little visibility and oversight they have.
2. Limited Educational Opportunities: Social media, used responsibly, can offer benefits such as social interaction, creative expression, and collaborative learning. A blanket ban removes these potential positives and hinders children from learning vital digital literacy skills.
3. Inevitable Exposure: Much like roads, which are essential despite their dangers, social media has become an unavoidable aspect of modern communication. Total avoidance may leave children unprepared for eventual independent use, which is almost certain to occur as they grow.

Rather than insisting on blanket bans, parents and caregivers should aim to teach children responsible digital citizenship. This involves:

• Guided Introduction: Gradually introduce children to social media platforms with close parental supervision. Discuss what is appropriate to share online, and set clear boundaries around screen time and interactions.
• Open Communication: Encourage ongoing dialogues about what children see and do online. Make sure they know they can approach you if they encounter uncomfortable or disturbing content.
• Parental Tools and Services: Supplement supervision with technology that not only limits screen time but can also flag problematic behaviors like bullying or sexual grooming. While tools like Family Link or Apple’s Screen Time offer helpful starting points, there are more advanced services available that provide real-time alerts.

The reality is that no parental control feature can preempt every issue. Children may still receive messages from strangers, come across harmful content, or be targets of bullying. That’s why Surfie—our protection service—embraces a balanced approach. By allowing parents to grant access to social platforms at a pace that suits their family, while sending real-time notifications about risky or dangerous interactions (e.g., cyberbullying, predatory behavior, or involvement in inappropriate challenges), Surfie empowers parents to:

1. Stay Informed: Immediate alerts let you address potential problems as soon as they arise.
2. Guide and Educate: Use real incidents as teachable moments to discuss safe online behavior.
3. Build Trust: Show children that you respect their need to connect with peers but are also committed to ensuring their well-being.

As children mature, it’s vital to grant them increased freedom and responsibility. Over time, they should learn to manage their own digital presence without constant parental monitoring. The end goal is not lifelong surveillance but rather cultivating responsible digital citizens who can recognize red flags, stand up against cyberbullying, and uphold healthy online boundaries.

By adopting this approach—balancing education, guided autonomy, and selective monitoring—parents help their children develop the resilience and digital literacy skills necessary to thrive in today’s connected world.

Deciding when a child should be allowed onto social media is a personal choice that depends on individual maturity levels and family values. Key factors to consider include:

• Emotional Readiness: Can your child handle negative feedback or mean comments without significant distress?
• Social Awareness: Does your child recognize the importance of privacy and the potential consequences of oversharing?
• Tech Savviness: Are they capable of navigating basic internet safety features, blocking unwanted contacts, and reporting harmful behavior?

By evaluating these factors, parents can make more informed decisions on which platforms to allow and how tightly to monitor usage.

Ultimately, parents can’t—and shouldn’t—strive to eliminate all risks. Instead, the focus should be on:

1. Education: Teach children how to spot scams, phishing attempts, and manipulative behaviors.
2. Empowerment: Foster confidence in their ability to report problems or seek help if they feel threatened.
3. Support System: Maintain open lines of communication, where children feel comfortable sharing their online experiences without judgment.

Social media platforms are the “roads” of the digital world—challenging but indispensable. Blanket bans and rigid laws often overlook how quickly and creatively children adapt to technology. Educating them on how to navigate responsibly, rather than isolating them from digital platforms entirely, is a more sustainable and beneficial strategy.

Parents and guardians must balance oversight with allowing children enough independence to develop critical digital skills. By using a combination of educational discussions, close supervision, and targeted monitoring tools like Surfie, families can foster a supportive environment where children are both protected and empowered. Over time, this approach helps raise digitally savvy young adults who can confidently—and safely—manage their online presence.

Royi Cohen CEO PureSight