Hajra Naz
As Europe debates new rules to restrict children’s access to social media, major tech companies are offering a different solution: let app stores handle age verification.
Companies like Meta Platforms and Snap Inc. argue that app stores should confirm a user’s age and give parents the power to approve or block downloads. Under this proposal, platforms such as Apple Inc.’s App Store and Google Play Store would verify ages when accounts are created or apps are downloaded.
Both companies already offer parental tools. Apple’s “Ask to Buy” lets parents approve downloads, while Google’s Family Link allows screen time limits and content filters.
But experts say that focusing only on app stores misses the bigger issue.
Do App Store Controls Really Work?
Digital rights advocates argue that parental controls often stop at the download stage.
Serge Egelman, research director at the University of California, Berkeley, said once an app is approved, parents have limited tools to monitor what happens inside it.
Critics also point out that tech-savvy children can bypass restrictions. They may reset phones to factory settings, install alternative operating systems, download apps from third-party stores, or access social media on desktop computers.
Simeon Debrouwer, policy advisor at European Digital Rights, said parental controls create “the impression of being in control” but do not address addictive platform features or deeper design problems.
In the United States, several states have introduced app store accountability laws, though some are being challenged in court. In the European Union, regulators are considering broader legislation, including the Digital Fairness Act, to address harmful online design practices.
Read More: Zuckerberg Faces Tough Questions in Court Over Social Media’s Harm on Teens
The Bigger Concern: Social Media Addiction
The debate over children’s access is tied to growing concerns about social media addiction. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are often compared to casinos or cigarettes because of their ability to keep users hooked.
Companies design apps to maximize engagement. Endless scrolling, short-form videos, notifications, and likes create small dopamine boosts that make it hard to log off. Features like “rage-bait” content and constant news updates can also keep users emotionally engaged.
While much of the focus is on children, adults are also affected.
What Counts as Addiction?
Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and medical director of addiction medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, defines addiction as “the continued compulsive use of a substance or behavior despite harm to self or others.”
During testimony in a social media harms trial in Los Angeles, she said platforms are addictive because of “24/7, really limitless, frictionless access.”
However, some researchers argue there is no official agreement on what qualifies as social media addiction. The condition is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), partly because experts disagree on definitions and causes.
Still, many specialists say harmful overuse is real.
Dr. Laurel Williams, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, said the key question is how social media use makes someone feel.
“For me, the biggest signpost is how the person feels about the ‘amount’ and how viewing it makes them feel,” she said.
“If what they discover is that they view it so much that they are missing out on other things they may enjoy or things that they need to attend to, this is problematic use.”
In simple terms:
- Are you avoiding responsibilities?
- Have you tried to cut back but couldn’t?
- Do you feel anxious, drained, or guilty afterward?
Ofir Turel, professor of information systems management at the University of Melbourne, said there is “no agreement” over the term addiction.
“It’s obvious that we have an issue,” he said. “You don’t have to call it an addiction, but there is an issue, and we need, as a society, to start thinking about it.”
Read More: Pew Study Reveals How Teens Use Social Media and AI Chatbots
Practical Ways to Reduce Social Media Use
Experts say understanding how platforms work is the first step.
Williams advises users to remember that social media companies are businesses trying to keep people engaged. “Think of social media as a company trying to get you to stay with them and buy something,” she said.
Simple changes can help:
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Move apps to a less convenient location on your phone
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Turn off notifications
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Avoid bringing your phone into the bedroom
Ian A. Anderson, a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology, calls these “light touch interventions.”
Both iPhones and Android devices offer built-in screen time controls. Apple’s Screen Time allows users to schedule Downtime and set limits on specific apps or categories. However, these limits are easy to override, making them more of a reminder than a strict barrier.
When Light Limits Aren’t Enough
For stronger measures, some users turn their phones to grayscale to reduce visual stimulation. Others downgrade to basic flip phones.
There are also physical tools designed to add friction. Products like Unpluq, Brick, and Blok require users to tap or scan a physical device to unlock blocked apps. Yondr, known for phone-locking pouches used at concerts and schools, also sells home lockboxes.
If technology changes aren’t enough, experts suggest looking deeper.
Social media overuse may be linked to anxiety, loneliness, stress, depression, or low self-esteem. Therapy can help address underlying issues.
Williams suggests making it a group effort: “For people struggling to stay away — see if you can get a friend group to collaborate with you on it. Make it a group effort. Just don’t post about it!”
Read More: The Future of Social Media Is Arriving, But It’s Complicated
The Bottom Line
App store age verification may help parents block downloads. But experts say it does not solve deeper concerns about addictive design, online safety, and mental health.
The larger challenge is not just keeping kids off social media — it is making digital spaces safer and healthier for everyone.
