In the quest for a more controlled virtual environment, the idea of a "digital adulthood" is gaining traction worldwide. On Tuesday, July 21st, France became the first country in the European Union to ban access to apps and social networks for those under 15 years old.
Australia pioneered this approach by passing a law in December 2025 restricting the use of these platforms by children and teenagers. In the United Kingdom, similar legislation is expected to come into effect in early 2027, while Spain, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey are also considering initiatives in the same direction.
In Brazil, the creation of the digital ECA (Statute of Children and Adolescents) in 2025/2026 established a series of rules aimed at protecting underage users, such as age verification and linking children's accounts to adult users. Given the government's initiative to legislate on such a sensitive topic, several questions arise.
Why this shift towards regulatory action at this time?
We have seen numerous news reports in the media worldwide about the harmful effects of social media use on the neurological, psychological, and social development of young people. This fact resonates with us as a society as a serious public health problem.
If we believe that today's children and teenagers will be the economically and socially active adults of the future, it is natural that this perception generates insecurity, anxiety, and even hopelessness.
This scenario becomes even more alarming when scientific research data shows a significant increase in cases of mental and emotional disorders in individuals under 18 years of age.
In this context, societal pressure is prompting governments to act more objectively, culminating in the development of legal tools that can help contain the deterioration of mental health within the social fabric—both present and future.
Are there real reasons for concern?
From a neural standpoint, the human brain remains in intense development for many years after birth. The construction of a personality capable of regulating emotions, controlling impulses, planning actions, establishing emotional bonds, and making decisions depends on this long and complex maturation process.
The maturity required for a person to act safely and autonomously throughout life demands the healthy experience of different stages of biological, psychological, and social development.
Currently, science understands that children and adolescents need an adequate routine of sleep, nutrition, and physical activity as an essential foundation for the proper development of their bodies and brains.
Furthermore, stimuli and training are necessary to build neural networks that will constitute the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns to be used throughout life.
"We need to admit that there are no choices without compromises and losses."
We need to remember that our brains evolved in a very different environment from the digital world. Therefore, the intensive use of social media imposes new challenges to its functioning, particularly during neurodevelopment. It is natural, then, that distortions occur along the way.
Science does not yet have conclusive evidence to state that the use of social media causes mental and emotional disorders in childhood and adolescence. However, studies point to an association between exposure to these platforms and increased psychological distress in this age group.
An aggravating factor is the replacement of time dedicated to real-world experiences with time spent in the virtual environment.
Reducing opportunities to play, interact with others, face conflicts, develop tolerance for frustration, and practice patience compromises the formation of personality and social skills, with consequences for the individual and for society as a whole.
Adults raised in this context are at greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, as well as difficulties with functionality and social integration. Therefore, for us as a society to be concerned about this issue is not only appropriate but necessary—and profoundly realistic.
Are laws that limit children's and adolescents' access to the virtual world worthwhile?
Considering the negative impacts associated with the early and intense use of social media by children and adolescents, the benefits of restricting this behavior become evident.
Among the main consequences are: less interference in brain development, more time to strengthen cognitive functions and social skills, less exposure to unrealistic comparisons, reduced risks of online harassment and violence, and more opportunities to fully experience the real world.
Some argue that there are problems with this defense, such as reduced access to information or virtual contact with family and friends. We need to admit that there are no choices without concessions and losses.
The crucial question we must reflect upon as a community is: what kind of society do we value and want to build? What characteristics, skills, and forms of human interaction do we consider indispensable for sustaining the functioning of collective life?
Without clarity about the values and principles that guide us, confusion about the role of social media and technology in our daily lives is a natural consequence. Therefore, we need to define: what is most precious to us as a society?
* Nina Ferreira is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, founding partner of the LuxVia clinic in São Paulo, creator of the Clube Potente Mente app, and author of the book Sinto Muito!
