The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Movement
Across Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' innocence". Legislation could be enacted soon.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
- The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an options under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to approve a bill raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their children from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.
"A strong age barrier is a useful first step," stated one MEP behind the initiative.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".
Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration committed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban may not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.
"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and suitable for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.
The United States: A State-by-State Landscape
In the United States, legislation is largely occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.
- Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a measure banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.
International Views
Outside of these regions, other countries are also considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
But, international agencies adopt a more cautious position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "could backfire". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.
Even as this global debate unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers show that governments internationally are increasingly content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
