Australia's controversial move to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
European Trend
In Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring comparable measures.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". A law could be passed soon.
- Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential options under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the president has called on the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has urged guardians to block their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," said a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".
Previously, support gathered behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. However, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.
Charities have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when teens reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a leading peer.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the state government level due to federal stalemate.
- Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a law barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding parental consent for minors to open social media accounts.
Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some figures to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Outlook
Beyond the West, further states are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, international bodies adopt a more measured position. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.
While this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.
