Australia's decisive policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.
The European Trend
In Europe, a increasing number of nations are exploring similar measures.
- Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". A law is expected to be passed soon.
- Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban could be "an options in reserve".
- In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a law raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a symbolic statement supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.
"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," stated the MEP driving the resolution.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by conclusive data".
Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.
Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Approach
In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to federal inaction.
- Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a rule restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media presences.
Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
International Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, additional nations are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, world organizations adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.
Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.
