🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy could be enacted soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has asked parliament to enact a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement calling for a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said a leading European lawmaker behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong data".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after being exposed to harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, action is largely happening at the regional government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Beyond the West, additional states are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

As this international conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that governments globally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.