🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial policy to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". A law is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a bill raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a solid foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading peer.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, regulation is largely unfolding at the local level due to country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various individuals to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Apart from these regions, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, global agencies adopt a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this international debate continues, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that states internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.