The Australian controversial policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
The European Movement
Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring parallel measures.
- The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on lawmakers to enact a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic motion calling for a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a solid first step," commented one European lawmaker behind the initiative.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong evidence".
Earlier, support grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the matter.
Charities have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a young person who died after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a influential child protection advocate.
The United States: A Fragmented Picture
Across America, legislation is largely unfolding at the state government level due to country-wide stalemate.
- Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
- Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.
Even with widespread concern and calls from various figures to mimic this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Perspectives
Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are similarly taking action.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies take a more nuanced tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in user protection.
As this international discussion continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.
