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Nearly two-thirds of voters and parents support banning social media for children under 16 and removing cell phones from K-12 classrooms, with Republicans showing the strongest support, according to a new Fox News poll.
The survey is based on interviews with 1,001 registered voters drawn at random from a national voter file. Respondents participated by landline, cell phone, or via an online questionnaire sent via text message.
When asked about banning social media for children under 16, 64% were in favor of the measure, while 35% were opposed.
The numbers did not waver among parents, with 64% in favor of banning social media for children under 16, compared to 36% against.
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With some smart settings and habits, you can enjoy social media without revealing more than you want. (Thai Liang Lim/Getty Images)
Among partisan groups, 73% of Republicans supported the ban, compared to 56% of Democrats.
Participants were also asked about banning cell phones in K-12 classrooms, and 69% supported the idea, while 31% opposed it.
Among parents, 63% supported the ban and 37% opposed it. Support was even higher among Republicans, at 81%, compared to 59% among Democrats.
AFTER AUSTRALIA PASSED A SOCIAL MEDIA BAN, LAWMINERS INVESTIGATED WHY CONGRESS HASN'T DONE MORE TO PROTECT CHILDREN
Parents (and even some teenagers) are increasingly concerned about the effects of social media use on young people. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
The results were released a week after Australia's historic new social media age requirement came into effect, banning anyone under 16 from having an account. The measure is now among the strictest online safety rules in the world.
The Australian government's Online Safety Amendment (Minimum Age on Social Media) Act was passed in November 2024 and came into force on December 10, 2025.
“From December 10, if you are under 16, you will no longer be able to have a social media account,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a video statement played in classrooms before the restrictions, according to 9 News Australia. “You'll know better than anyone what it's like to grow with algorithms, endless feeds, and the pressure that comes with that.”
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A new Fox News poll shows strong support from voters and parents for banning social media for children under 16 and removing cell phones from classrooms as safety concerns grow. (iStock)
Platforms banned for young people in Australia include Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
Australia's eSafety commissioner, the country's independent online safety regulator, says the new minimum age rule requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. That includes implementing age monitoring tools, removing existing underage users, and blocking re-registration attempts using methods such as VPN detection.
Companies that do not comply face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or approximately $32 million.
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In the United States, concerns have been growing about young people's use of social media, with lawmakers from both parties warning about its impact on children's mental health.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week, lawmakers argued that technology companies have not done enough to protect children from online exploitation.
Senators pressed experts on whether stricter age restrictions, stricter liability rules for social media platforms and changes to Section 230 are needed to better protect young people online.
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A Pew Research Center report from April 2025 found growing concern among parents and teens about the impact of social media on young people's well-being, with nearly half of teens saying it has a mostly negative effect on people their age.
A separate 2023 Gallup poll of more than 1,500 teens found that 51% of American teens spend at least four hours a day on social media, with the average teen spending 4.8 hours on seven major platforms.
“Across all age groups, average daily social media use ranges from 4.1 hours for 13-year-olds to 5.8 hours for 17-year-olds. Girls spend almost an hour more on social media than boys (5.3 vs. 4.4 hours),” according to the survey.
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The latest Fox News poll was conducted December 12-15, 2025, led by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Results are based on the full sample and have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points, with higher margins of error for subgroups. Beyond sampling error, the wording and order of the questions can influence the results.
Fox News Digital's Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
