🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive policy to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing group of countries are considering comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to block their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory statement calling for a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on strong research".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. One foundation established by the family of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and fit for young users," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state level amid national gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Outside of these regions, additional countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies take a more cautious stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even backfire". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to self-regulate.