The Australian controversial action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.
The European Movement
Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are moving toward parallel measures.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". The policy may be passed soon.
- Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a good foundation," commented a leading MEP driving the measure.
The UK: A Watchful Stance
For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong data".
Previously, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.
Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to build tools that are secure and suitable for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Picture
Stateside, regulation is largely occurring at the state government level due to country-wide inaction.
- Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
- Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed laws demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of Europe and the US, further states are likewise considering moves.
- Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world agencies strike a more measured stance. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.
While this international conversation continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries indicate that states globally are increasingly prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.
