- U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a potential nationwide ban on social media for minors, inspired by Australia's strict under-16 restrictions. Lara Trump revealed discussions with Trump about the neurological harms of screen addiction, citing dopamine depletion and emotional withdrawal in children.
- Australia's Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024 bans children under 16 from platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook unless they pass invasive age verification. Non-compliant companies face fines up to AU$50 million, sparking debate over privacy vs. child protection. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed it as reclaiming childhood, with other nations (France, U.K., Spain) considering similar laws.
- U.S. lawmakers (including Republicans like Ted Cruz and Democrats like Brian Schatz) have proposed bills like the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) to restrict under-13 access and limit algorithmic content for teens. Tech giants and free speech advocates oppose such bans, arguing they infringe on parental rights and digital freedoms.
- Despite advocating free speech via Truth Social after his Twitter ban, Trump's administration previously targeted TikTok over national security concerns. His family's own social media use (e.g., granddaughter Kai Trump's Instagram fame) highlights tensions between personal engagement and public criticism of digital culture.
- Presidential son Eric Trump and his wife Lara enforce a strict no-screen policy for their young children, promoting offline activities like sports and face-to-face interaction. Broader societal warnings about a mental health crisis tied to digital dependency may push U.S. policymakers toward stricter regulations, mirroring global trends.
President Donald Trump is reportedly "taking an interest" in imposing a national social media ban for minors, inspired by Australia's recent crackdown on under-16s accessing platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
The revelation comes from Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who confirmed the president has been closely examining the effects of digital addiction on young minds—a concern shared by parents and policymakers worldwide.
In a recent interview, Lara disclosed that she has discussed the dangers of social media with her father-in-law, citing studies showing how screen exposure triggers dopamine and oxytocin surges in children—only to leave them emotionally depleted when the devices are taken away.
"When I talk to him about the studies that I've read and the way that a kid looks at a screen and their dopamine and their oxytocin and all these feel-good chemicals are firing… and then you take the screen away, and those all go away," Lara explained. "Well, how are they ever going to get back to that in just regular life without a screen? They almost don't."
She emphasized that Trump is "very interested" in the issue, though his exact stance remains unclear. The potential move aligns with broader bipartisan concerns over social media's impact on mental health, attention spans and real-world social skills.
Australia's "world first" ban sparks global debate
Last December, Australia became the first country to enforce a strict ban on social media for children under 16, prohibiting access to major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X. The law aims to shield minors from addictive algorithms, cyberbullying and predatory behavior while encouraging offline activities like sports and reading.
BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that Australia's Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024, which took effect in December 2025, bans children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram unless they pass invasive age-verification systems. The legislation imposes fines of up to AU$50 million on non-compliant platforms and mandates the removal of existing underage accounts.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the policy as a success, stating: "We want kids to have their childhood back." He noted that other nations – including France, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom – are now considering similar measures.
Lara praised Australia's approach, admitting that while she typically opposes government regulation, she would "be very happy with a little bit of regulation in this space, just personally as a parent."
Trump's social media paradox
The push for stricter controls has faced fierce resistance from Big Tech companies and free speech advocates, who argue that such bans infringe on personal freedoms and parental rights. However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle—including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)—have introduced bills to restrict underage social media use.
The Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), for example, seeks to ban children under 13 from platforms entirely while limiting algorithm-driven content for users under 17.
Despite his interest in youth restrictions, Trump's relationship with social media remains complex. After being banned from Twitter (now X) following the January 6 Capitol riot, he launched his own platform, Truth Social, advocating for free speech and opposing censorship.
However, his administration has also targeted TikTok over national security concerns, though enforcement of a ban has been repeatedly delayed. Meanwhile, his granddaughter Kai Trump boasts millions of followers across Instagram and other platforms—highlighting the paradox of a family deeply embedded in digital culture while questioning its dangers.
A growing movement against screen addiction
Lara and Eric Trump enforce a strict "no-screen policy" at home, requiring their children (ages 8 and 6) to engage in face-to-face interactions instead of scrolling.
"They bring a football with them, or they bring a coloring book with them or something, or they talk to us," Lara said. "So that one day when they're adults… they're going to have the ability to converse with people instead of look at a screen."
Her concerns echo a broader societal shift as parents, educators and health experts warn of an impending mental health crisis fueled by digital dependency. While no formal policy has been proposed by Trump's camp, the discussion signals a potential turning point in how governments address Big Tech's influence on youth.
As Australia's experiment unfolds, U.S. lawmakers may soon face mounting pressure to follow suit—balancing free speech concerns with the urgent need to protect children from an increasingly digitized world.
For now, Lara Trump's message is clear: "I'm terrified we're going to have an entire society that's totally depressed because they can't get back to that level."
Watch this video about Florida passing a law that bans children under 14 from social media.
This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.