🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are moving toward parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy could be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to enact a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a related step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a non-binding statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a good foundation," stated the parliamentarian driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who died after encountering harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," stated a influential child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the local level due to national inaction.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to mimic Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, global organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

While this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of this nation and others demonstrate that states internationally are less and less prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.