Resource LibraryTo promote adaptive repetitive thinking, educators can address unpleasant emotions that students may experience with content on digital media.
By Zi Jia Ng, Victoria Mack
Social media is a form of digital media that focuses on platforms for social interaction and content, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. In November 2024, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children under age 16 from social media. In January 2025, Florida became the first state in the United States to ban children under 14 from social media, with parent/guardian permission required for children aged 14 or 15. Many states are pushing for cellphone bans in schools, with California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia enacting measures banning or restricting student use of cellphones. These legislations seek to protect children from addictive algorithms (e.g., curated content, personalized feeds) as well as inappropriate and harmful content (e.g., sexually explicit material, graphic violence, hate speech, cyberbullying, misinformation) on social media.
