🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial action to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our youngsters' youth". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a law 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 parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement supporting a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a good first step," stated one MEP behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by strong data".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a prominent peer.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule capping minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating adult authorization for minors to create social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various individuals to follow this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond the West, other nations are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

While this international discussion evolves, the policies of Australia and its followers show that states globally are less and less content to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.