Timing of Parental Controls Linked to Teen Social Media Addiction, Utrecht Study Finds

A study from Utrecht University found that parental controls on social media are most effective when implemented before children reach age 12. The researchers said that setting boundaries early can reduce the likelihood of problematic scrolling during teenage years, while restrictions introduced later offer little or no benefit. The findings come as concerns about teen social media use persist across Europe.

Researchers surveyed 315 children and their parents to measure levels of internet addiction and when parental controls were first put in place. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found a reduced risk of dependence when limits were introduced before age 12. By the time children were between 12 and 15, the same measures had little effect on addiction rates. After age 15, enforcing restrictions appeared to increase the risk of addiction, the researchers said.

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Beyond the numbers, the study adds to mounting evidence that excessive social media use in adolescence can disrupt sleep, relationships and social skills. A 2024 Cambridge University poll of 19,000 youngsters found that 57% of girls and 37% of boys admitted being hooked on scrolling.

"Parental rules may be more likely to prevent rather than reduce adolescents' problematic social media use," the researchers wrote. "When these rules are effectively enforced, adolescents are less likely to develop problematic patterns of social media use in the first place. But if a problematic use has already developed, these rules have limited effect. From the age of around 16 years onward, they even seem to backfire, probably due to the intensifying need for independence."

Experts say the findings underscore the importance of early intervention and ongoing, age-appropriate guidance rather than punitive crackdowns once teens already rely heavily on social platforms. The research also aligns with health concerns that online activity can interfere with sleep and social development, and it suggests that parents and guardians may reduce long-term harm by establishing consistent rules before adolescence.

While the Utrecht study adds to the evidence base, researchers cautioned that applying rules before 12 is not a guarantee against later addiction and that individual differences among children matter. The study calls for further research into how parental guidance interacts with other factors such as family routines and device access in shaping teen online behavior.