The Australian bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Movement
In Europe, a increasing group of states are exploring parallel measures.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
- The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The administration in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a good first step," said one European lawmaker behind the resolution.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance
Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in robust data".
Last year, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the matter.
Charities have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the state government level against a backdrop of national stalemate.
- Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to create social media presences.
Even with widespread concern and calls from various figures to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Global Perspectives
Beyond the West, further states are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, world bodies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.
As this international discussion evolves, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.
