The Australian bold move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring similar restrictions.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our children's youth". A law could be enacted next year.
- Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding statement supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age restriction is a useful first step," said the MEP behind the resolution.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.
Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material argues that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a influential peer.
The United States: A State-by-State Picture
Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the regional level amid federal inaction.
- The state of Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a measure barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has approved a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to copy this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
International Perspectives
Beyond the West, additional states are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, global agencies strike a more measured tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.
As this worldwide conversation continues, the policies of Australia and its followers indicate that states globally are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
