Advances in Policies and Guidelines, and Other Measures Related to Social Networking and Video Game Use in Minors: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Vargas-Salas O.; Alcazar-Gonzales J.C.; Calle-Vera Ó.F.; Molina-Rodríguez F.N.; Fernández-Fernández F.A.; Carcausto-Zea M.L. · SAGE Open (2025) · DOI: 10.1177/21582440251393158

Resumen

In today’s digital era, the constant engagement with social networks and video games by minors has raised concerns about their well-being and safety online. This study systematizes evidence on policies, guidelines and other measures relating to the use of social media and video games by minors. This study is based on the PRISMA protocol and the criteria of the Joanna Briggs Institute, which results in a selection of 22 articles from databases such as Scopus, EBSCO, and Web of Science, for which inclusion criteria were applied that considered studies published since 2010 and that specifically address regulations and practices focused on the protection of minors. The results suggest that, although several countries have regulations regarding minors’ engagement with social networks and video games, the implementation of effective policies remains a challenge. In addition, there are disagreements over the effectiveness of age restrictions and parental supervision. Additionally, gaps in the literature persist, particularly regarding best practices for regulating online interaction and exposure to inappropriate content. Based on these findings, we propose recommendations to enhance current policies and highlight key areas for future research to promote the safe and responsible use of social networks and video games by minors. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

Instituciones: Universidad Católica de Santa María