Australia's bold action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring similar bans.
- The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and networks are "stealing our children's innocence". A law could be formalized in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "an tools in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. While it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution.
The UK: A Watchful Approach
Across Britain, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Last year, interest built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue.
Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a influential peer.
The US: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the regional level amid federal gridlock.
- Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional access requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws demanding adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain politicians to follow the Australian example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Outlook
Outside of these regions, other countries are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, international bodies take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in safety.
While this international discussion unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that states internationally are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to self-regulate.
