Australia's controversial move to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Momentum
Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are considering comparable measures.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon.
- The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a law lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a useful first step," commented one MEP driving the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
Across Britain, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust evidence".
Last year, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.
Campaign organizations have raised concerns. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after viewing disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a prominent peer.
America: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, regulation is largely unfolding at the state level due to federal inaction.
- Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has signed a law barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some individuals to copy Australia's path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Apart from the West, other nations are likewise considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
But, world organizations take a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The body points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety.
As this international conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for platforms to self-regulate.
