🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a increasing number of nations are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to approve a bill increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a good first step," stated the parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in strong data".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. An organization founded by the loved ones of a girl who died after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the local level due to federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, further nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies take a more cautious position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

While this international debate evolves, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that governments internationally are increasingly prepared to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.