The Australian decisive move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a rising group of states are moving toward similar restrictions.
- The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be passed soon.
- Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a law lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a similar action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the resolution does not establish binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," said one European lawmaker behind the initiative.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
Across Britain, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust evidence".
Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design products and services that are safe and suitable for children," said a prominent peer.
The United States: A State-by-State Picture
Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the state level amid country-wide gridlock.
- The state of Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has passed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some figures to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Beyond these regions, further countries are likewise considering moves.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.
But, global organizations strike a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.
As this worldwide discussion continues, the actions of this nation and others show that governments around the world are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.
