Starting the new year with legislation that prohibits anyone younger than 18 from having a social media account would benefit our youths. In Texas, that could become a reality. A state representative there has proposed legislation that would ban minors from having social media profiles. While it certainly will be met with some criticism, there is enough data to support this legislation.
Consider the rising number of youths suffering from depression and anxiety. From 2005 to 2015, depression increased from 8.7% to 12.7% for those 12 to 17 years old, data from the National Survey on Drug Abuse reveals. Depression is a mental illness that is often overlooked or not treated.
We often say, “They are just being teenagers,” when we seen teens exhibit symptoms such as a change in appetite and appearance or demonstrate defiant behavior.
