🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a rising group of nations are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on the legislature to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a solid first step," said the European lawmaker driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a simple age ban may not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and suitable for children," stated a influential peer.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, action is largely occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping minors to one hour of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain individuals to mimic this lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from Europe and the US, other states are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations take a more measured stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might backfire". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the policies of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments globally are increasingly content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.