🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial policy to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising number of countries are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation could be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban could be "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a law raising the legal 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 recommended a related action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," said one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration pledged to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content argues that a simple age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," said a prominent peer.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is mostly happening at the local level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's example, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional countries are likewise exploring options.

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

Yet, world bodies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this global discussion continues, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.