🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are observing closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy may be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to pass a law increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented the parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "based on robust research".

Previously, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to further research the matter.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization founded by the family of a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a influential peer.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely unfolding at the regional level due to national gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with extra time dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring adult authorization for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to mimic Australia's example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, additional countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world agencies take a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

While this international conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and others show that policymakers globally are less and less content to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.