The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a growing group of nations are considering comparable restrictions.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have stated that an similar ban could be "an options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to approve a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a good starting point," commented one European lawmaker supporting the measure.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance
In the UK, the government has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "supported by strong research".
Last year, support built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the matter.
Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and suitable for minors," said a prominent peer.
America: A Decentralized Approach
Across America, regulation is largely happening at the regional government level due to country-wide inaction.
- Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding guardian approval for minors to create social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to copy this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Views
Apart from Europe and the US, further states are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
But, world agencies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.
Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the steps of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.
