🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding statement supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," stated one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, interest built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to create products and services that are secure and fit for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the state level amid federal inaction.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, world organizations take a more measured position. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.

While this global conversation continues, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.