🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are considering comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a useful starting point," said one European lawmaker behind the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to further research the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a simple age ban might not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some politicians to follow the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this global debate continues, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.