The Australian controversial policy to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Trend
Across Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation could be formalized soon.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an options under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to block their children from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," said the parliamentarian driving the resolution.
The UK: A Cautious Eye
For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust research".
Earlier, interest gathered behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government committed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous online content argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people turn 16.
"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.
The United States: A State-by-State Landscape
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.
- Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has passed a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.
Despite widespread concern and proposals from some figures to copy the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Views
Beyond Europe and the US, other states are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global agencies adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.
Even as this worldwide discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that states internationally are no longer prepared to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
