🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of states are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors without parental consent is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented one MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts contends that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are appropriate and suitable for young users," stated a influential peer.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to follow Australia's path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations adopt a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

As this international discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.