Australia's decisive move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring comparable restrictions.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". A law could be passed soon.
- Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the options in reserve".
- In Spain, the leader has called on lawmakers to approve a law increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," commented one MEP driving the measure.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in strong data".
Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who died after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are safe and fit for children," said a influential child protection advocate.
America: A Fragmented Approach
Stateside, action is primarily happening at the regional level due to country-wide stalemate.
- Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy this example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Beyond Europe and the US, other nations are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
However, world agencies adopt a more nuanced position. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.
While this international discussion evolves, the actions of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
