The Australian bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
Across Europe Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' youth". A law could be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "an options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to approve a proposal lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a related action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a non-binding statement supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not create binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a useful foundation," said one European lawmaker behind the resolution.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".
Earlier, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.
"This ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are secure and fit for minors," said a influential online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local government level due to federal stalemate.
- Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various individuals to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Beyond Europe and the US, other states are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, world bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
While this global debate evolves, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that states internationally are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
