The Australian decisive action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are observing intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Momentum
Across Europe, a growing group of countries are considering similar measures.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential options on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a bill raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a similar move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," stated one parliamentarian behind the measure.
The UK: A Watchful Eye
In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "based on conclusive research".
Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. However, the government pledged to further research the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the regional level amid federal stalemate.
- The state of Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a bill banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further access needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.
Despite widespread concern and proposals from some politicians to copy this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
International Outlook
Beyond these regions, other nations are similarly considering moves.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.
Even as this international debate evolves, the actions of Australia and others show that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.
