The Australian decisive policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Momentum
In Europe, a growing number of states are exploring similar restrictions.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that phones and apps are "stealing our children's youth". A law may be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban remains "an measures on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution demanding a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a useful starting point," stated a leading MEP driving the measure.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive data".
Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.
Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who was lost after encountering disturbing online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to build tools that are secure and suitable for young users," said a leading peer.
America: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, action is largely happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.
- Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a law barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use needing a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted bills demanding parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and suggestions from various figures to mimic this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of these regions, additional countries are likewise considering moves.
- The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
But, global bodies strike a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.
As this international conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers indicate that governments internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.
