The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.
Across Europe Trend
In Europe, a increasing number of countries are considering parallel measures.
- Denmark has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy could be enacted next year.
- Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a related move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The administration in The Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not establish binding law.
"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.
The UK: A Cautious Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust research".
Previously, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the topic.
Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. One foundation founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Landscape
In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the local level against a backdrop of federal inaction.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a measure banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with any further access needing parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating guardian approval for minors to open social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of the West, further countries are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world bodies adopt a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.
While this international discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and its followers show that governments around the world are less and less prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.
