The Australian controversial move to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
European Trend
In Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring similar measures.
- Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our youngsters' youth". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
- Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "influence of the AI".
- The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "an tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s without parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not enact binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," said the parliamentarian supporting the measure.
Britain: A Cautious Approach
In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on robust evidence".
Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," said a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A Decentralized Picture
Across America, legislation is mostly occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.
- The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has enacted a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use needing a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced bills demanding adult authorization for minors to open social media presences.
Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some individuals to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
Worldwide Perspectives
Apart from these regions, further countries are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.
However, global bodies take a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.
As this international debate continues, the steps of this nation and others show that governments globally are no longer content to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.
