🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial move to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and families are observing with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a rising group of nations are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". A law may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban could be "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised families to block their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good first step," said the European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. An organization set up by the family of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are secure and suitable for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws requiring adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from some figures to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies take a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and several other countries show that states globally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.