🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Movement

In Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a similar action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a solid first step," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on robust research".

Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous online content contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for young users," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to copy the Australian example, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Apart from the West, other nations are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are no longer content to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.