Australia's decisive action to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
The European Movement
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring parallel bans.
- Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a bill lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors without parental consent is given. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not enact mandatory rules.
"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust research".
Earlier, interest built behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
The US: A Fragmented Approach
Across America, legislation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.
- Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time dependent on parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain politicians to follow Australia's path, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.
Global Views
Beyond these regions, additional countries are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.
But, international bodies adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.
Even as this international discussion unfolds, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.
