The Australian controversial action to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing closely to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
Across Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring similar restrictions.
- The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". A law may be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential measures on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," said the MEP supporting the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust research".
Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent peer.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.
- The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has approved a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use needing parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to create social media accounts.
Despite bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of the West, other countries are also considering moves.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.
However, global organizations take a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize safety.
Even as this international debate evolves, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to self-regulate.
