In today’s digital world, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become integral to our daily lives. While these platforms offer numerous benefits—social interaction, entertainment, and information sharing, among others—they also pose risks, especially to vulnerable children and youth.

Social media use in Bhutan has grown significantly over the years. According to a study done by Bhutan Media Foundation, about 90 percent of Bhutanese are active users of at least one social media platform. On an average, Bhutanese people spend 163 minutes every day on social media. Gen Z (age 13-29) is one of the most active users of social media, spending four or more hours on social media daily.

The consequences of unregulated social media use on children and adolescents can be profound. Research studies have shown that excessive social media exposure is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem among young people. Social media contributes to body image issues and mental health problems in children, particularly among girls.

The “fear of missing out” (FOMO) is a significant psychological concern for young people on social media, leading to social anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. Adolescents are also highly susceptible to online content that promotes harmful behaviours such as violence, substance abuse, and self-harm.

Excessive online presence also exposes young people to cyberbullying. A 2024 survey by the Bhutan Youth Health Survey revealed that 23 percent of high school students reported experiencing bullying or harassment online. Such incidents can lead to long-term emotional and psychological trauma in children.

Social media can also hamper the development of healthy coping mechanisms among children. Rather than learning face-to-face social skills and problem-solving strategies, they rely on unhealthy online interactions. This shift can limit their ability to build resilience and emotional intelligence—key qualities needed to navigate real-world challenges effectively.

The alarming impact of social media on mental health, physical well-being, and personal development has prompted governments worldwide to take action. Just yesterday Australia announced its plans to legislate a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16.

The Australian government will enforce this ban through age-verification systems such as biometrics or government identification, ensuring that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube cannot be accessed by underage users.

Our Himalayan neighbour Nepal has also taken steps to regulate social media. The Nepali government has developed regulatory frameworks that require  social media companies to register and adhere to national regulations, including promoting digital literacy and preventing harmful content. A few days back, Tiktok became the third social media, after Viber and Wechat, to officially register in Nepal. This allows the Nepali government to crackdown on illegal or harmful content being spread through social media platforms.

In Bhutan social media is increasingly becoming a hotbed of illegal activities—from online gambling, social nuisance, scams, cases of copyright infringement, cyberbullying to defamation and libel, to name a few. While the recently launched Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2029 addresses the growing threat of cyberattacks, it does not specify solutions for threats posed by illegal use of social media. 

Therefore, it is imperative for us to develop regulatory mechanisms requiring social media companies to officially register in the country, and adhere to our content guidelines and national laws. We also need a comprehensive national strategy to regulate social media to safeguard children and vulnerable populations from harmful content and prevent social media from being misused to create social disharmony.

While we can’t ignore new technologies, what we can do is control how these technologies are used. Social media is no exception. Introducing measures to make social media safer must be a national priority.