🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked parliament to enact a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a good foundation," said a leading European lawmaker behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is largely happening at the state government level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from certain politicians to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Apart from these regions, other countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations take a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and others show that states globally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.