Brazil's new rules giving parents additional tools to manage their children's social media use are fueling discussion about whether California should consider similar measures to address growing concerns over teen screen time and online safety.
The policy is designed to give parents more control over minors' access to social media platforms as concerns about teen anxiety, excessive screen time, and social media addiction continue to make headlines worldwide. The debate raises a broader question: Should governments require additional protections for young users, or should those decisions remain with families?
That question was the focus of a recent Roggin Report discussion, where panelists weighed the role of parents, technology companies, and government in managing children's social media use.
Jill Marie Plaza argued that parents should remain the primary decision-makers.
"I'm less government is more," Plaza said. "We need to allow parents to be parents. We do need to protect our kids and we need to allow the parents the freedom to do that."
Stephanie Minor agreed, saying effective parenting is more important than relying on technology or regulations.
"This really comes down to parenting and are we watching our kids?" Minor said. "Kids are going to work around it even if they shut it down. It's not up to a social media platform to manage your kids."
Host Fred Roggin noted that while parents can set limits, many teenagers are skilled at finding ways around restrictions. He questioned whether responsibility should fall on parents or technology companies but said he believes parents ultimately play the leading role.
Minor shared her own experience of removing her daughter's phone from her bedroom when she was younger and emphasized the importance of having ongoing conversations about the risks associated with social media.
As lawmakers in California continue debating proposals related to children's online safety, discussions like these reflect the broader challenge of balancing parental responsibility, technology, and government oversight in an increasingly digital world.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
July 28, 2026
