🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring similar measures.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our children's childhood". A law could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to pass a proposal raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a useful foundation," commented one MEP behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Charities have expressed concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material argues that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and fit for children," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

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

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond the West, additional nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even backfire". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

As this international discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.