🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold move to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing number of states are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' youth". A law could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," stated a leading parliamentarian driving the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. A prominent charity founded by the family of a girl who died after encountering dangerous social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is primarily happening at the state level amid federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to follow this path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global organizations adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

While this global conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.