🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a advisory statement calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a solid foundation," said the MEP supporting the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, interest built behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful platform posts argues that a blanket age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, action is largely occurring at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some individuals to copy this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Beyond these regions, further countries are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies take a more measured stance. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

Even as this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.