The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Trend
Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our children's youth". Legislation may be formalized next year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a law lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has advised parents to prevent their children from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not create binding law.
"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," said one MEP driving the measure.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach
In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".
Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are secure and fit for minors," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid federal stalemate.
- Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- Florida has passed a bill banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a law capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.
Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to copy the Australian path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
Global Views
Outside of these regions, additional countries are also taking action.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.
But, global agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
While this international conversation unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers indicate that governments around the world are no longer willing to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.
