🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial move to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law could be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a similar move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a solid first step," stated one parliamentarian driving the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after encountering disturbing online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, legislation is primarily happening at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law capping minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various individuals to copy this path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and several other countries indicate that states around the world are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.