Australia's bold policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing closely to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.
- The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be enacted next year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to pass a law lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a good first step," commented one MEP driving the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on robust research".
Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government vowed to investigate the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation established by the family of a teenager who died after viewing harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when users become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, legislation is largely occurring at the state government level due to federal stalemate.
- Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a rule limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring parental consent for minors to open social media accounts.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to follow Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Global Perspectives
Beyond Europe and the US, other states are likewise exploring options.
- The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international bodies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.
As this global debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries show that governments globally are less and less willing to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.
