The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing group of states are considering parallel restrictions.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy is expected to be passed soon.
- Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "an measures in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their kids from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a useful starting point," said one parliamentarian supporting the measure.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive evidence".
Earlier, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Picture
Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the local level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.
- The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring parental consent for under-16s to set up social media presences.
Despite widespread concern and calls from some individuals to copy the Australian example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Perspectives
Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are also considering moves.
- The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international organizations adopt a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could backfire". The body highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
As this international discussion unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers indicate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.
