🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising number of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". The policy could be enacted next year.
• Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding statement demanding a ban for minors without guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are appropriate and fit for minors," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various individuals to mimic Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Outside of these regions, additional states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international agencies strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "may even backfire". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this international debate evolves, the policies of Australia and others indicate that states around the world are increasingly willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.