A study led by George Mason University discovered that state-level social media legislation frequently fails to align with approaches grounded in evidence for improving adolescent mental health.
Media literacy has received much less attention, even though it may be one of the more promising approaches when it teaches young people about both the risks and the benefits of social media.”— said Melissa Villodas, an associate professor at George Mason University
From TikTok prohibitions and age-verification mandates to media literacy courses in classrooms, U.S. states are investigating a broad spectrum of methods to safeguard youth online.
This surge in legislative activity mirrors rising worries about social media’s impact on teenage mental health, given that depression and anxiety rates have climbed over recent years. Yet policy strategies differ widely, and the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness remains inconsistent.
To gain a clearer picture of how states are reacting, a research team headed by social work scholar Melissa Villodas from George Mason University’s College of Public Health examined 16 laws enacted across 10 states. The study, featured in The Journal of Policy Practice and Research, provides one of the initial frameworks for categorizing and evaluating the expanding collection of state social media regulations.
Researchers discovered that the laws generally fell into three broad categories:
1) Restricting access using measures such as parental permission requirements, age checks, school internet limitations, and, in Montana’s case, an attempted TikTok ban. This was by far the most prevalent approach, despite relatively weak evidence that many of these steps improve young people’s mental health.
2) Reducing harmful exposure by banning targeted advertising to minors, limiting potentially addictive platform functions, and strengthening parental controls. Current research offers somewhat stronger, though still mixed, backing for these methods.
3) Building media literacy by instructing students on topics like misinformation, cyberbullying, online safety, and social media’s effects on mental health. This was the least common approach, even though existing evidence indicates it could be a promising strategy, especially when it covers both the risks and advantages of social media use.
“Most research on this topic has focused directly on how social media affects young people’s mental health,” said Villodas, associate professor in the Department of Social Work and the study’s lead author. “We wanted to understand what state governments are actually doing in response, whether those approaches are supported by existing evidence, and where additional research is needed.” She also emphasized the study’s “person-in-environment” perspective, a fundamental approach in social work that considers how broader forces, including public policy, can influence a young person’s experiences and mental health.
The analysis revealed a stark mismatch: the policy approach used most frequently—limiting young people’s access—had the least supporting evidence of its effectiveness. Meanwhile, media literacy training, present in only one enacted law in Florida, appeared to have some of the strongest evidence behind it.
“Many states have focused on measures like parental consent and age verification, but the evidence for those strategies is still limited,” Villodas said. “Media literacy has received much less attention, even though it may be one of the more promising approaches when it teaches young people about both the risks and the benefits of social media.”
The study captures the policy landscape through November 2024, but Villodas noted that its insights are designed to assist policymakers in evaluating future proposals as the evidence continues to evolve.
In addition to Villodas, the study was coauthored by Michael Wheeler and Natalia Acevedo, both recent graduates of George Mason’s Master of Social Work program; Fadi Hamati of Columbia Cornell Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian; and Ishita Kapur of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES: Reporters who wish to speak to Dr. Villodas about youth social media policies, please email media contact Mary Cunningham at mcunni7@gmu.edu.
About George Mason University
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to
support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.
About College of Public Health at George Mason University
The College of Public Health at George Mason University is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college comprises public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
Mary Cunningham
George Mason University College of Public Health
+1 703-993-1931
mcunni7@gmu.edu
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