🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold action to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy could be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a law raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," commented one MEP supporting the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for minors to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to copy the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global debate evolves, the steps of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.