ב"ה
Tuesday, 4 Iyyar, 5786
  |  April 21, 2026

How Young Is Too Young for Social Media?

Question of the Week: As countries in Europe, Asia, and the United States move to limit young teens’ access to social media, what is an appropriate minimum age for use, and are there specific apps that should be restricted more than others? Full Story

Archive photo: Berke Citak/Unsplash

Seudas Hodaah in Texas Grateful for Bondi Survivor

Next Story »

Parshas Shekalim One Sefer Torah or Two?

53 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
any age
February 19, 2026 10:05 pm

is too young or too old for social media.

We’re all too young!
February 19, 2026 10:05 pm

The less the better. They are literally making money off your addiction and anxiety. Save yourself while you still can 🙂

Honestly
February 19, 2026 10:10 pm

Under high school age is too young. After 20s for research, shopping and what’s needed (not wasting time) purposes.

– from a old schooler . what was and will always be the normal way

A girl’s opinion
February 19, 2026 10:11 pm

I think social media affects people’s mental health more than people realize and are willing to admit. As someone who is going through her own struggles I personally got rid of instagram. I’ve had it for a while but on and off never consistently. There’s a lot of pressure of seeing influencers lives even if they have good messages to share and you know their life isn’t actually perfect. I think even if you’re not actively aware, your brain is getting affected. Aside from the fact that there is stuff on there that isn’t appropriate for a Jewish person to… Read more »

Movgs
February 19, 2026 10:13 pm

The right is when your can have a positive outlook on life

Never!
February 19, 2026 10:14 pm

What’s this Narishkiet!

Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:31 pm

I’m a mom and I have a daughter in sixth grade and we let her have TikTok I don’t think it’s so bad

Def not a mom
Reply to  Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:38 pm

This is def not a mom. Def a girl that wants other moms to think this is the norm.
There’s no way a parent thinks that it’s not a problem or there’s nothing wrong with it.
Maybe, their child pressured them into getting it, but to say they don’t see a problem with it is definitely not true.

wow didnt even think of that
Reply to  Def not a mom
February 19, 2026 11:24 pm

nice judging favorably. maybe it was actually a fake comment from a nonmom.

you’ll see the results when she’s in high school
Reply to  Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:44 pm

Good luck to you in every way <3

that's terrible
Reply to  Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:44 pm

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how can you possibly be that naive

Agreed
Reply to  Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:46 pm

Everyone makes it such a big deal.My daughter just entered high school and TikTok was the best thing for her!

You dont sound like a mom
Reply to  Agreed
February 20, 2026 1:23 am

How was TikTok the best thing for her ? Would love to hear you elaborate on that

Huh?
Reply to  Agreed
February 20, 2026 3:25 am

Refua Sheleima.
FOr you and for her.

This has to be a joke
Reply to  Agreed
February 20, 2026 4:19 am

😅

what!
Reply to  Sixth grade
February 19, 2026 10:51 pm

do you expect your daughter to be frum when she grows up?!

Is that a threat?
Reply to  what!
February 20, 2026 8:53 am

Are we using “being frum” as a threat like that? That’s seriously not OK. The only reason children today aren’t frum is because of discontent within themselves or with ppl who are supposed to be giving them Yiddishkeit. Having said that, TikTok is bad for the child’s mind far before we even talk about their ruchnius.

Hatzlacha

sending a kid to college=kid being on social media
Reply to  what!
February 20, 2026 10:26 am

“This would have been my opinion even if college entailed no more than the distraction of secular studies. Actually there is much more involved. Theoretically a college and its faculty should not try to impose any particular views, much less a way of life, on the students. Actually however, the student cannot help being impressed, on the conscious and subconscious level, by the views, outlook and way of life of his professors. These, as well as the whole atmosphere of a college, are unfortunately, not compatible with the Jewish way of life, and frequently if not always quite contradictory to… Read more »

Social media is terrible
February 19, 2026 10:31 pm

All social media should be for adults only, and even for adults, with filters and discretion
Once the damage is done and negative ideas and influences seep in, it’s very very hard to turn back

Social media
February 19, 2026 10:37 pm

Its everywhere, even a news site that has comments section is already a form of social media. My personal addiction is YouTube and its really bad. I admit anonymously that I need help.

Col...
Reply to  Social media
February 20, 2026 1:16 am

So according to your definition, collive is a form of social media…

Yes guilty!
Reply to  Col...
February 20, 2026 12:55 pm

Lol

It depends
February 19, 2026 10:53 pm

I’d say for the most part girls should be allowed at 16 (only if they want), and boys never! (I just don’t think it’s appropriate for males to be on social media)

Than its also not appropriate for females
Reply to  It depends
February 20, 2026 12:07 am

What, so when a couple is married ,the wife is on social media and the husband not ?

Yeeah
Reply to  Than its also not appropriate for females
February 20, 2026 5:56 pm

Or better, neither, I am not marrying someone who wastes their time on TikTok

Get help
Reply to  It depends
February 21, 2026 8:52 pm

You sound controlling

Why its bad
February 19, 2026 11:02 pm

I think social media can negatively affect frum marriages by increasing exposure to inappropriate content and distractions, leading to a decrease in quality time spent together. It can also foster unrealistic expectations by promoting idealized versions of relationships, causing dissatisfaction and comparison with others. The pressure to measure up to these portrayals can create stress, while constant sharing of personal details can erode privacy and lead to disagreements about boundaries. Additionally, social media can fuel jealousy and trust issues, especially when spouses interact with others online, which may create tension in the marriage. Therefore I think that social media should… Read more »

It all made sense
Reply to  Why its bad
February 20, 2026 1:19 am

Until you concluded with social media should only be banned for those that are married .

I think the starting age...
February 19, 2026 11:12 pm

should be 80. It’s a nice way to occupy time and the mind at that age and beyond

Smart answer!
Reply to  I think the starting age...
February 22, 2026 8:40 am

Lol!
I agree only if the person isn’t as physically capable as they used to be and need outside entertainment and stimulationm

At that age people aren’t even interested in the stupidity that proliferates and wastes everyone’s time!
They got to being healthy and mindful because they were free to use their mind and creativity.

chassidish
February 19, 2026 11:12 pm

my mashpia told me to get tik tok because when we spread torah videos on it we can have a far reaching impact on many people and you cant be nispoel by all of the shtusim on it.

dont use your "mashpia" ever again
Reply to  chassidish
February 20, 2026 6:29 am

find a real mashpia.

the truth about whatsapp
February 19, 2026 11:21 pm

I’ve seen many people and especially bachrim let themselves binge away on whatsapp statuses when they convince themselves that they dont have social media. The truth is that whatsApp can be an especially addictive form of social media for frum individuals due to its constant availability and the way it encourages constant checking of messages. The app’s instant communication features create a sense of urgency, with notifications prompting immediate responses, which can lead to a cycle of checking and replying that becomes hard to break. For frum people, this can be particularly challenging because WhatsApp often blurs the lines between… Read more »

and its pathetic that
Reply to  the truth about whatsapp
February 20, 2026 6:29 am

orthodox organizations use whtasapp fo rtheir groups and communication instead of using email.

Filter
Reply to  the truth about whatsapp
February 20, 2026 10:26 am

You can get filters on WhatsApp. They can take off status

Never
February 19, 2026 11:46 pm

Waste of time , talents and ruins all relationships. Look at our poor kids. Their mothers are so busy checking or posting they never get a present parent. Today mothers have to cook in a sheitel or do a weird nod as she writes something for attention and likes while her poor kids wander around the house. ( that also teaches them wonderful life skills -not )

Stick to the topic
February 20, 2026 1:30 am

The question was how young is too young for social media? Nothing else. Don’t answer unasked questions please.

come on!
February 20, 2026 1:31 am

Children of this generation shouldn’t be boxed in. Let them live. Hashem runs the world.

Boxed into what?
Reply to  come on!
February 21, 2026 8:51 pm

That the internet and smartphones and media apps is what boxes you in

And Hashem
Reply to  come on!
February 22, 2026 8:30 am

…told us ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם. Don’t use “Hashem runs the world” as an excuse for hefkeirus.

Times of confusion
February 20, 2026 1:33 am

Being raised in the 80s and 90s ,always ingrained how bad tv is and watching and never thinking in a billion years that those parents and teachers would one day be glued to their phones the way they are. We are really all human and we are thrown into a world where yiu cannot function among society without WhatsApp . I would say that WhatsApp is the app that leads to ppl posting clips or links to Instagram ,facebook,tiktok,YouTube, and than youre on a roll. Trying to do a task but getting distracted by messages which you must check bec… Read more »

should be halachically forbidden for
Reply to  Times of confusion
February 20, 2026 8:32 am

any orthodox organization to use whatsapp as their mode of communication.

kids will find a way to
February 20, 2026 5:30 am

kids will find a way to get to the internet might as well guide them. let them have social media with direction

I'll counter with a question
Reply to  kids will find a way to
February 20, 2026 1:09 pm

Adults don’t even know how to use social media responsibly. Expecting kids to learn how to manage it is designed to fail.

Girls and boys are different
February 20, 2026 9:13 am

Being that Girls have the responsibility of being the ikeres habayis, we as frum Jews can’t afford for them to be scrolling through nourishkite. Let men do what ever they want. Women should have intended restrictions for themselves as not to ruin their families. Just my opinion

I'll counter with a question
February 20, 2026 11:45 am

I’d answer by asking a different question. Is any form of social media a net positive for most people? If we were actually honest the answer would be no. Whatever “benefits” we claim to get are far outweighed by the negative effects. So ideally the answer would be, most people don’t need social media at all. And for those that use it for business or shlichus purposes, they should keep it on a separate device that they don’t bring home with them. Yeah, I know it’s not realistic for now. But it’s starting ever so slightly to nudge in that… Read more »

Marry urabi
February 20, 2026 12:07 pm

CHILDHOOD IS SHORT;
Why waste it climbing trees and riding bikes when you could be mastering the art of the perfectly angled selfie?

Better to go offline
Reply to  Marry urabi
February 20, 2026 1:44 pm

You can still do both

Lol
Reply to  Marry urabi
February 21, 2026 8:46 pm

You can take a riding a bike or climbing a tree selfie

Collive
February 20, 2026 4:32 pm

Is COLive also considered social media? Lol

Leave the boys alone
February 20, 2026 5:17 pm

This has nothing to do with boys or girls specifically it’s about all boys and girls alike.

Schools please limit WhatsApp messages
February 22, 2026 12:27 am

Please, schools limit WhatsApp groups & limit messages. It’s overwhelming to keep up with all the messages and updates. A simple school bus tracking system would be enough.

Since Covid, kids are on screens too much. In camp there are no screens and they’re happier because they have activities and structure. After school, many families can’t afford programs. If there were accessible clubs like music or sports for everyone, kids would be more engaged and off screens

Crown hieghters
February 22, 2026 8:46 pm

As a teenager I wish I was more limited with my social media, its so addicting and useless. Especially whatsapp! You think its not but there are so many chats and groups and statues….. as a community we need to stop using WhatsApp. If my schol would not use it I wouldn’t need it either… just my opion we don’t need it we all use it cuz of peer pressure

X