The Australian bold action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a increasing group of states are considering similar bans.
- The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our children's youth". The policy could be enacted next year.
- The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The government in The Dutch government has urged families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," commented the parliamentarian driving the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong research".
Previously, interest grew behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.
Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a young person who died after viewing disturbing platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when users become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level due to national inaction.
- Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to mimic the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.
International Views
Beyond Europe and the US, additional states are likewise exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies adopt a more measured stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.
As this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states internationally are no longer willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.
