🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an similar ban could be "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to pass a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised parents to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a solid first step," commented a leading MEP behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by strong research".

Previously, interest grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban may not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the local level due to national gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to mimic this path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international organizations adopt a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "might backfire". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this international discussion continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.