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. Lara Trump confirmed that the president has been examining the effects of digital addiction on young minds, citing studies showing how screen exposure triggers dopamine and oxytocin surges in children, only to leave them emotionally depleted when devices are removed.
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. Australia’s Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024, which took effect in December 2025, 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 stated: “We want kids to have their childhood back.” Other nations, including France, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom, are considering similar measures.
Lara Trump expressed support for regulatory action on social media, stating she would “be very happy with a little bit of regulation in this space, just personally as a parent,” despite typically opposing government regulation. She and Eric Trump enforce a strict “no-screen policy” at home for their children, ages 8 and 6, requiring face-to-face interactions instead of screen time.
The push for stricter controls has faced resistance from Big Tech companies and free speech advocates, who argue such bans infringe on personal freedoms and parental rights. However, bipartisan support exists among lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), who have introduced bills to restrict underage social media use. The Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) seeks to ban children under 13 from platforms entirely while limiting algorithm-driven content for users under 17.
Trump’s own relationship with social media remains complex; he launched Truth Social after being banned from Twitter, yet his administration has targeted TikTok over national security concerns. No formal policy has been proposed by Trump’s administration, but the discussion signals a potential turning point in addressing Big Tech’s influence on youth.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-02-20-trump-mulls-social-media-ban-us-teens.html