The Australian controversial policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar restrictions.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". A law may be passed soon.
- Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have stated that an similar ban could be "an options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked parliament to enact a law 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 parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.
"A clear age limit is a useful first step," commented the parliamentarian behind the initiative.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in robust data".
Last year, support built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.
Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization established by the relatives of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts contends that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are secure and fit for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the state level due to national inaction.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a law banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
- The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to copy this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, world agencies strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.
As this worldwide conversation continues, the steps of this nation and others indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
