The Australian bold move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Movement
In Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring parallel measures.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be passed next year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to enact a proposal increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The government in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a good first step," said a leading MEP behind the resolution.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by conclusive research".
Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government committed to further research the matter.
Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who died after viewing dangerous online content argues that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," stated a leading online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, regulation is largely unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of national inaction.
- The state of Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a law barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has approved a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of the West, other countries are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, world agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
Even as this international discussion continues, the policies of this nation and its followers show that governments globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
