Australia's decisive move to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
European Momentum
Across Europe, a rising number of countries are moving toward parallel bans.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". A law may be passed next year.
- Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said one European lawmaker behind the initiative.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive research".
Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.
Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," commented a leading peer.
America: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, action is largely unfolding at the local level amid national stalemate.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a law limiting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with extra use requiring parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.
Despite bipartisan support and calls from some figures to copy Australia's example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Views
Outside of these regions, additional nations are also exploring options.
- The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, global organizations strike a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.
Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are increasingly content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.
