The Australian controversial policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
Across Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring parallel measures.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". Legislation is expected to be enacted next year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not create binding law.
"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker driving the initiative.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust research".
Last year, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.
Charities have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Approach
Stateside, regulation is largely unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national gridlock.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra use needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to mimic this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of these regions, further states are also exploring options.
- Malaysia plans to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, global organizations take a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.
As this worldwide discussion continues, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments internationally are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to self-regulate.
