🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

In Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a proposal raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," said one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain figures to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional countries are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, world organizations adopt a more measured position. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even backfire". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

As this international debate continues, the steps of Australia and its followers show that states globally are less and less willing to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.