A new survey reveals that, on average, U.S. parents believe children shouldn’t own social media accounts until they are 14, with Tennessee parents agreeing on this age.
The survey by Test Prep Insight found parents in Maine, North Dakota, and Utah were the strictest, supporting a minimum age of 16 while parents in Wyoming felt that 12 was an appropriate age for children to start managing their social media profiles.
The survey also found that 83% of parents in the states support harsher penalties on social media companies that allow underage users on their platforms.
Parents cited cyberbullying as their top worry at 42% with exposure to inappropriate content coming in second at 32%. Other concerns included privacy and data security, negative impacts on mental health, and screen addiction.
In terms of who their children follow on social media, 40% of parents were comfortable with their children following celebrities or influencers while 27% preferred their children only follow friends and family. 18% of parents said they don’t allow their children to follow any influencers while 15% said they allow their children to follow whoever they like.
When it comes to monitoring the social media profiles of their children, half of parents said they have full access to their accounts and regularly check their activity. 32% said they check occasionally or simply hold discussions with their children while 18% rarely monitor their children’s online activity or don’t discuss it at all. 52% of parents also stated they regularly discuss the risks of social media with their children through ongoing conversations.
53% of parents believe it is extremely important for schools to take on the role of educating children in responsible social media use.
Tennessee House Bill 1891, or the Protecting Children from Social Media Act, requires social media companies to verify the ages of minors and prevents them from creating accounts without parental consent. It was signed into law in May and will take effect in January.
You can read the full Test Prep Insight survey here.
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