View from Russia: Social media bans won’t save your child

By Lesya Ryabtseva, journalist and blogger

Bans on social media for teenagers might seem like a protective measure, but without trust, family accountability, and overall digital literacy, they often backfire. Instead of disappearing from the internet, kids gravitate toward less visible and secure internet spaces, resorting to VPNs, anonymous accounts, and the use of less monitored platforms.

Pavel Durov recently made a similar statement, criticizing the British government’s decision to restrict social media access for users under 16. He argued that such restrictions would push teens into a digital environment with a higher risk of encountering illegal and harmful content, as it doesn’t undergo the standard moderation that social media platforms typically enforce.

Not all children might immediately turn to VPNs, but many are already familiar with these services. According to research by Childnet, 38% of children aged 8-17 in the UK have used a VPN service; among them, 16% did so to bypass parental controls, while another 16% sought to evade school restrictions. In Russia, Durov claims that 95% of teenagers use a VPN for Telegram.

The tension between governments and social media platforms is also evident in the US. Florida has sued TikTok for violating child safety laws. The Attorney General stated that users under the age of 14 cannot have a TikTok account, and those aged 15-16 need parental consent. According to the authorities, TikTok misleads adults by claiming there’s no “adult” content on the platform, such as nudity, drugs, alcohol, or explicit language.

Regardless of the global and domestic context, discussions about children’s online safety must begin at home. Everything starts with healthy relationships, trust, and responsibility within the family. This is where children should learn how to navigate the internet safely, avoiding scams, manipulation, pedophilia, dangerous communities, and misguided advice from AI.