The Australian decisive action to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.
European Movement
In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering parallel bans.
- Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our children's youth". The policy may be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "an measures on the table".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The government in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is provided. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not enact binding law.
"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," said one European lawmaker driving the resolution.
Britain: A Cautious Eye
In the UK, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive research".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to disturbing platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.
"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a leading peer.
America: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the state government level due to country-wide inaction.
- Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from certain figures to follow Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
International Perspectives
Outside of the West, additional countries are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, world bodies take a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.
Even as this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of the Australian government and others show that governments around the world are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
