Social media for the present generation is more than a form of simple communication; it is a holistic mechanism for socialising, education, entertainment and recognition. It has transformed the way children and adolescents engage with and explore their lives, in contrast to previous generations. However, of late, there has been a public furore on the downside of the online exposure, including digital addiction, cyber-bullying, misinformation, mental health and behavioural issues at this tender age. Many countries are thereby implementing an age limit for social media use.

The minimum age for most major social media platforms today is 13 years, which is mainly to secure adherence to data protection laws like the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States. But with lax enforcement, the majority of children have access to social media long before the recommended age.  Age restrictions demonstrate the importance of protecting children during their developmental period. Research........

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