Australia's controversial policy to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.
The European Momentum
In Europe, a rising group of states are considering comparable measures.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law may be formalized next year.
- Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
- The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has asked parliament to approve a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in the Netherlands has advised families to block their kids from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.
"A strong age restriction is a solid first step," commented a leading parliamentarian driving the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong data".
Earlier, interest built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.
Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a teenager who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users become eligible.
"This ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to build products and services that are secure and suitable for children," commented a leading peer.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.
- Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
- Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some figures to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
International Perspectives
Outside of the West, further states are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
But, world bodies adopt a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.
Even as this international discussion continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that policymakers globally are less and less content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
