Teen Sleep Is Affected Not Just by Parenting, but by Policy |
Australia recently announced a ban on social media use for kids under 16, citing concerns about mental health and online safety. But there’s another issue at stake—sleep. Teenagers’ late-night screen use has quietly become one of the biggest barriers to healthy development.
Sleep-deprived teens face higher risks of depression, anxiety, substance use, and academic struggles. While Australia’s move is bold, similar efforts are emerging in the United States. Utah and Arkansas now require parental consent for minors to join social media platforms, and states including New York, Louisiana, and Florida are debating tighter controls on underage users or on the algorithms designed to keep them scrolling late at night.
These efforts signal a sea change in public—and scientific—attitudes about sleep. When I........