🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation may be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a law increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a useful first step," said a leading parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Last year, support built behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Charities have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state government level due to national inaction.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional time needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various figures to mimic the Australian example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

While this international debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries indicate that states globally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.