The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
In Europe, a rising group of nations are moving toward comparable measures.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that smartphones and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". A law is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," said the MEP behind the initiative.
The UK: A Cautious Eye
In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong evidence".
Previously, interest gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation established by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to design products and services that are secure and suitable for young users," said a influential child protection advocate.
The US: A State-by-State Approach
Stateside, legislation is primarily occurring at the regional level due to federal stalemate.
- The state of Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has signed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- Virginia has approved a regulation restricting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of the West, additional nations are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.
But, global bodies take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could backfire". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.
As this international debate continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states internationally are no longer content to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.
