🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

In Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring parallel measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". A law may be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not establish binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid first step," commented one MEP driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust research".

Last year, interest gathered behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering disturbing online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are secure and fit for young users," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the regional government level due to federal inaction.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond the West, further nations are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies strike a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

Even as this international conversation evolves, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that states internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.