The Australian bold action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are considering parallel bans.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that smartphones and networks are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation may be passed soon.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a law lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"An effective age limit is a good foundation," said the MEP driving the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".
Last year, support grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the matter.
Charities have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content argues that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a influential child protection advocate.
The US: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the local level due to federal gridlock.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has passed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some figures to copy this path, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.
International Outlook
Beyond these regions, additional nations are also exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, global agencies adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve user protection.
While this international conversation continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries show that governments around the world are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.
