🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold action to restrict social media access for those under 16 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.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising number of states are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation may be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to pass a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a solid starting point," said the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a girl who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various individuals to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Beyond the West, additional countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

As this international conversation unfolds, the actions of Australia and its followers indicate that policymakers globally are less and less content to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.