The Australian bold policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.
European Movement
Across Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are exploring comparable bans.
- The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy may be passed next year.
- Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban could be "one of the options on the table".
- In Spain, the president has called on parliament to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," commented the MEP behind the resolution.
Britain: A Watchful Eye
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "based on strong research".
Previously, support grew behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.
Charities have expressed apprehensions. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading child protection advocate.
The United States: A Fragmented Approach
In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of federal inaction.
- Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain politicians to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
International Perspectives
Beyond the West, other countries are also considering moves.
- The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.
But, international bodies strike a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve safety.
As this international debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer content to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.
