Latin American experts call for social media regulation for youth

Experts, legislators, and civil society leaders from Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador have called for a regional debate regarding the regulation of social media and mobile phone access for children and adolescents. The proposal was presented during a forum in Costa Rica organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the European Union.

The initiative comes as Latin America and the Caribbean report the highest average daily social media usage globally, with users spending approximately three and a half hours per day on these platforms. Participants highlighted concerns regarding the impact of excessive screen time on mental health, self-esteem, academic performance, and behavior.

While Panama and Ecuador have existing legislative projects aimed at minors, none of the four represented countries currently have specific laws to regulate these digital effects. Advocates emphasized that any future regulation must involve participation from youth, parents, teachers, and technology companies, while accounting for diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts.