As several countries move to tighten rules around children’s use of social media, US President Donald Trump has shown "keen interest" in the idea of limiting access for teenagers, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump has said.
In a conversation on the New York Post podcast with host Miranda Devine, Lara Trump said she had spoken to the President about research examining how social media affects children psychologically. Citing developments in Australia and France, she described regulatory efforts aimed at delaying young people’s entry into online platforms.
“I see things like what has happened in Australia and what has happened in France, where you have a regulatory body saying, ‘We’re going to wait until these kids are at least a little bit older, 15, 16 years old, in order to at least process a little more what they’re doing in the social media space before they get online,” Lara Trump said on the podcast hosted by Miranda Devine.
“And I personally would be so in favour of that,” she added.
Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump and hosts My View on Fox News, acknowledged that she does not typically advocate for increased government oversight. However, she indicated that this issue was an exception. “I’m not much of one for regulating things, but I would be very happy with a little bit of regulation in this space, just personally as a parent,” she said during the interview.
She also said she had discussed scientific studies with the President that link screen exposure to the release of dopamine and oxytocin in children. “When I talk to him about the studies that I’ve read and the way that a kid looks at a screen and their dopamine and their oxytocin and all these feel-good chemicals are firing, and then you take the screen away, and those all go away,” Lara Trump said.
Continuing her remarks, she said, “well, how are they ever going to get back to that in just regular life without a screen? They almost don’t.”
According to Lara Trump, the President has shown strong curiosity about the potential risks posed by addictive algorithms and online harms targeting minors.
The discussion comes at a time when multiple governments are advancing stricter digital safety frameworks. In 2024, Australia enacted legislation establishing 16 as the minimum age for holding a social media account, along with mandatory age verification requirements and penalties for platforms that fail to comply. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the reform would make “an enormous difference” in protecting children.
France has introduced a requirement for parental consent for users under 15 and has considered tougher enforcement mechanisms. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed support for strengthening online safety regulations, including possible age thresholds for social media use.
While Trump’s previous executive actions on social media largely focused on platform moderation policies and claims of censorship, online platforms have also been central to his political outreach. He launched Truth Social after being barred from Twitter, now known as X, following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
There is currently no formal proposal from the White House to introduce a nationwide ban or restriction on teenage social media use.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
