The Australian bold action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Trend
Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are considering similar measures.
- The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation may be passed soon.
- Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an tools on the table".
- In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not enact mandatory rules.
"A clear age restriction is a good first step," stated the parliamentarian supporting the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance
Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust evidence".
Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.
Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a simple age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Across America, regulation is largely happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.
- The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a law barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills demanding guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media presences.
Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to mimic this example, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.
International Outlook
Outside of Europe and the US, additional states are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.
But, global agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.
While this global conversation continues, the policies of Australia and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are no longer content to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.
