🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising number of nations are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and apps are "robbing our children's youth". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," stated one MEP driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any action must be "grounded in robust data".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who died after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and fit for young users," said a leading peer.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the regional government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

While this global debate continues, the actions of Australia and others indicate that states globally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.