🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

European Momentum

In Europe, a increasing number of states are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". Legislation could be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the step does not establish binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a solid foundation," stated the MEP driving the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, legislation is largely happening at the regional level due to national gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some figures to follow this example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Beyond these regions, additional countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The body highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve user protection.

As this global discussion continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries show that policymakers globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.