🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial action to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising number of states are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy could be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to approve a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," stated one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have voiced warnings. An organization set up by the family of a young person who died after viewing disturbing social media material argues that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to follow this lead, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Apart from the West, other nations are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world agencies take a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

As this international discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and others show that states globally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.