PARIS: Countries including France and Britain are considering following Australia’s lead by banning children and some teenagers from using social media, but experts are still locked in a debate over the effectiveness of the move. Supporters of a ban warn that action needs to be taken to tackle deteriorating mental health among young people, but others say the evidence is inconclusive and want a more nuanced approach.

As the UK government faces pressure to follow suit, evidence on whether the ban is working is still a while away.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concerns about children's screen time, as the House of Lords may vote next week on an under-16s social media ban.