The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
In Europe, a growing number of nations are moving toward similar measures.
- Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban could be "one of the options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.
"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," stated the MEP behind the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
Across Britain, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by robust data".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the regional level due to federal stalemate.
- The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some individuals to copy the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
International Perspectives
Apart from the West, additional nations are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, global organizations take a more measured position. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.
Even as this international conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and several other countries show that policymakers globally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.
