The Australian controversial action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
Across Europe Momentum
Across Europe, a increasing number of states are exploring parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law is expected to be passed soon.
- The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to enact a law increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in The Dutch government has urged families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding statement calling for a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.
"A strong age restriction is a useful starting point," commented a leading MEP behind the measure.
The UK: A Watchful Approach
In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on strong evidence".
Last year, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after encountering harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for minors," said a leading child protection advocate.
The United States: A State-by-State Landscape
Across America, regulation is primarily happening at the regional level due to national inaction.
- The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to mimic the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Perspectives
Beyond Europe and the US, further states are also considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.
As this global debate unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.
