Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.
European Movement
In Europe, a rising chorus of countries are considering parallel measures.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation could be enacted soon.
- Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has urged parliament to pass a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these services, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.
"A strong age limit is a good first step," commented one parliamentarian driving the resolution.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
Across Britain, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Last year, interest grew behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.
The US: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of national inaction.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various individuals to follow the Australian path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Beyond these regions, further nations are also exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.
But, world organizations strike a more nuanced position. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
While this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others indicate that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
