Australia's decisive policy to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
In Europe, a rising group of nations are moving toward comparable bans.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "robbing our children's childhood". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
- Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential tools under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to pass a bill raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory resolution supporting a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not establish binding law.
"An effective age restriction is a good starting point," said one parliamentarian supporting the initiative.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "based on strong research".
Previously, support grew behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation set up by the relatives of a young person who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material argues that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A State-by-State Landscape
Across America, regulation is largely happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.
- Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a rule limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media presences.
Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from various politicians to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Perspectives
Beyond the West, other states are likewise exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.
However, international organizations strike a more cautious position. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.
As this international conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
