NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — With kids being given access to digital technology at an earlier age than ever before, the question of how old children should be to have their own social media is one that parents often contemplate. After the Surgeon General’s warning earlier this year about the detrimental effects of social media on children’s mental health, lawmakers across the U.S. have been calling for more stringent restrictions on children's access to online content. Parents have also been asking for regulations, citing many reasons for why social media can be dangerous to their kids. These regulations include age restrictions. Online education company Test Prep Insight conducted a state-by-state survey asking 3,000 parents to weigh in on what they believe to be the minimum age for children to safely use social media. The research shows that, on average, parents across the U.S. believe children shouldn’t own social media accounts until they reach 14 years of age. Parents in North Dakota believe the age limit for having a social media account should be 16, above the national average.  Interestingly, Maine and Utah are the only other states that think the age limit should be 16, the highest of any state. The only states that went below 14 are Hawaii (13) and Wyoming (12). “Parents across the nation are clearly worried about the influence of social media on their children, and these survey results underscore just how important it is for policymakers to work on solutions,” says Matt Ross of Test Prep Insight. “From more stringent age restrictions to enhanced education on responsible online behavior, there’s a real opportunity to protect and empower the next generation as they navigate this digital landscape.” The survey also looked at parents' opinions on whether social media companies should be held accountable for enforcing these age restrictions. 83% expressed support for the use of harsher penalties on social media companies that allow underage users to access their platforms.  Nextdoor treat map shows Halloween hot spots Another institution that parents consider to be responsible for promoting responsible social media use is schools. A total of 82% of parents believe it is extremely/very important for schools to educate their students about social media use. Many parents take matters into their own hands. About 50% said they have full access to their children's accounts and regularly monitor them. 32% said they occasionally check their children's accounts, while the other 18% said they rarely/never monitor their children's social media activity. These statistics reflect the number of parents who discuss the dangers of social media with their children. 52% of parents said they regularly discuss these risks, while 36% say they bring them up occasionally, and 12% say they rarely/never discuss the dangers with their children. The main concerns parents have when it comes to their children's social media use are cyberbullying (the top concern for 42% of respondents), and exposure to inappropriate content (32%). Privacy and data security, mental health, and screen addiction were also notable concerns. Parents also had varied views on their children following influencers or celebrities. 40% were comfortable with it as long as they could approve the accounts, while 27% preferred their children only follow friends and family members. Another 18% of parents indicated they would rather their children not follow influencers at all, while the remaining 15% of parents say they don't mind who their children follow on social media.  Social media has a clear influence on our younger generation, whether it be by encouraging various trends, or through cyberbullying. Most parents seem to be in agreement that kids should be given access to social media around the time they enter high school. So the question remains, will anything be done? And how effective can any legislation be? To view the full study and see what other states believe the minimum age should be, head over to the Test Prep Insight website. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW