🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive move to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are considering similar bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's childhood". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged families to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" design of these services, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated a leading MEP supporting the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Previously, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. One foundation set up by the relatives of a young person who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level due to country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some figures to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Perspectives

Outside of the West, further nations are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries show that states internationally are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.