🔗 Share this article

Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are observing intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". Legislation may be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged lawmakers to pass a bill lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is provided. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a good first step," said the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain politicians to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, other countries are also considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

While this international debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are increasingly content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.