Australia's decisive move to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
The European Trend
In Europe, a growing chorus of nations are considering similar bans.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be enacted soon.
- The Norwegian government is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an similar ban could be "one of the measures in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a law raising the access age for joining 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 suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The administration in the Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for minors except if parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a good first step," stated one MEP supporting the initiative.
The UK: A Watchful Stance
In the UK, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in strong data".
Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration vowed to further research the topic.
Charities have expressed warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when users reach the legal age.
"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a influential child protection advocate.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.
- Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
International Perspectives
Outside of the West, further states are likewise considering moves.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted 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 highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
