Statistics · checked October 2026
Social Media and Children Statistics (2026)
Platform minimum ages, actual first-use ages, and what the evidence on teenage mental health says.
Children typically create a first social media account at around eleven to thirteen against a platform minimum of thirteen, and the evidence on social media and teenage mental health is contested rather than settled.
| Statistic | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform minimum age | 13 on almost all major services | 2026 | Platform terms |
| Typical first account age | 11–13 | 2025 | Ofcom |
| Verification | Self-declared | 2026 | Platform terms |
| EU position on profiling ads to minors | Prohibited under the DSA | 2026 | DSA |
| Evidence on average mental-health effect | Small on average, contested | 2025 | Research literature |
| Evidence on subgroup effects | Larger for some groups, especially girls | 2025 | Research literature |
| Evidence on video games and violence | Repeatedly tested, not supported | 2025 | Research literature |
| Evidence on evening screens and sleep | Consistent | 2025 | Research literature |
| Countries introducing under-16 restrictions | A growing number since 2024 | 2026 | Press reporting |
Being honest about a contested field
The average measured association between social media use and adolescent mental health is small, and researchers disagree publicly about how to interpret it. Effects appear larger for some subgroups, particularly girls, and the direction of causation is not settled.
We report it as contested because it is contested. Sites that report it as settled — in either direction — are ahead of the evidence.
Frequently asked
What age can children use social media?
Thirteen is the stated minimum on almost every major platform, verified only by asking for a date of birth.
Does social media harm teenagers?
The evidence is genuinely contested. Average effects appear small, with larger effects for some subgroups, and causation is not established.
Are countries restricting it?
A growing number have introduced or proposed under-16 restrictions since 2024.
AlphaBetaMinds (2026). Social Media and Children Statistics. Retrieved from https://alphabetaminds.com/statistics/social-media-age-statistics