🔗 Share this article

The nation's bold move to restrict social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for under-16s without parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," commented the European lawmaker behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to create tools that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the regional government level due to federal inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures demanding guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various individuals to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and its followers indicate that governments globally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.