The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Trend
Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring comparable bans.
- Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". A law is expected to be formalized next year.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an options under consideration".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a bill lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in The Dutch government has urged parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic motion calling for a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a good foundation," stated one parliamentarian supporting the measure.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust evidence".
Previously, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.
Charities have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a influential child protection advocate.
The United States: A Fragmented Picture
Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the regional government level due to national gridlock.
- The state of Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional time requiring parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.
Even with widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to follow this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Beyond the West, further nations are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global organizations take a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in user protection.
As this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers internationally are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
