The Australian bold move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.
The European Movement
Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are considering similar bans.
- Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy is expected to be enacted next year.
- Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "influence of the AI".
- The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the move does not enact binding law.
"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," commented one parliamentarian driving the initiative.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust data".
Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.
Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing platform posts argues that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," said a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the local government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.
- Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a measure barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Apart from Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, global agencies adopt a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.
Even as this global debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments around the world are less and less prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
