Australia's decisive action to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Trend
In Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring similar measures.
- The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be passed soon.
- Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has urged parliament to pass a law lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.
"A strong age barrier is a useful first step," stated one European lawmaker behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance
In the UK, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong data".
Last year, support grew behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the topic.
Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and fit for minors," stated a prominent child protection advocate.
America: A Fragmented Picture
Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the state level amid federal gridlock.
- Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Perspectives
Apart from Europe and the US, other states are also considering moves.
- Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global bodies take a more cautious stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in user protection.
As this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
