🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of countries are considering similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to enact a law raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong research".

Previously, interest built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and fit for young users," said a influential child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills demanding adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to copy this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global debate unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others demonstrate that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.