🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold policy to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward comparable bans.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to pass a law lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid first step," stated the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who died after encountering disturbing online content suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the state level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain politicians to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Outside of the West, additional nations are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, global organizations adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

As this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.