🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial policy to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". A law could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to enact a law increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a advisory resolution supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a good first step," commented the parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by conclusive data".

Last year, interest built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. One foundation set up by the relatives of a girl who was lost after encountering disturbing online content argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and suitable for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

As this global conversation continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states around the world are no longer content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.