🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are watching intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of nations are considering comparable bans.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is given. Although it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," said one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the local level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule capping minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to mimic the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of these regions, other states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies take a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the policies of Australia and others indicate that governments globally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.