The Australian decisive action to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
- The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a bill increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a related step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye
In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust research".
Earlier, momentum built behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration committed to further research the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content contends that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.
"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are secure and fit for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
Across America, regulation is mostly occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national stalemate.
- The state of Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Apart from the West, additional countries are also exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, world agencies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The body highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.
As this international conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and several other countries show that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.
