Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward comparable measures.
- The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and networks are "stealing our children's youth". A law could be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "influence of the AI".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to approve a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The government in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it warns of the "compulsive" design of these services, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A clear age limit is a solid first step," commented the European lawmaker driving the initiative.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".
Previously, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the regional level due to country-wide inaction.
- Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring parental consent for minors to open social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to mimic the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Perspectives
Beyond Europe and the US, additional states are also taking action.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global bodies strike a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The body points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve user protection.
Even as this global discussion evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers show that states around the world are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
