🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged parents to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a solid first step," commented one MEP supporting the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the administration has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on strong research".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government pledged to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful online content suggests that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," said a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, action is mostly unfolding at the state government level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to mimic Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Beyond these regions, other countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

As this worldwide discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that governments around the world are increasingly prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.