A recent poll conducted by Grinnell College in conjunction with Selzer & Company found that a majority of Americans support banning children from using social media until they are over 16 years old. The poll, which surveyed 1,005 U.S. adults from March 11-17, revealed that 55% of respondents favor such a ban. Support for the measure increased to 65% among Americans who have children under 18 years old in their households.
In addition to the social media ban, the poll also showed that 57% of respondents would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools, and 52% believe that parents should have the ability to sue social media companies for content that harms their children. These findings come on the heels of legislation passed in the House that would ban TikTok from the U.S. unless the platform is sold to a company without ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
TikTok, the most popular social media platform among school-age Americans, has raised concerns among lawmakers for its data-sharing practices with the CCP. The legislation, sponsored by House China Select Committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., would require TikTok to be divested from its parent company, ByteDance, within 165 days of passage.
Despite bipartisan support for the legislation, there has been opposition from young people and activists who have inundated Congress with calls and messages urging lawmakers not to restrict TikTok. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a lead co-sponsor of the bill, reported receiving calls from individuals threatening suicide over the proposed ban. The debate over TikTok's presence in the U.S. continues to be a contentious issue with strong opinions on both sides.