The Australian controversial action to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
Across Europe Momentum
Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are moving toward similar restrictions.
- The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our youngsters' youth". A law may be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has urged parliament to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors without parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.
"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," commented a leading MEP supporting the initiative.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance
Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in strong data".
Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization established by the family of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens reach the legal age.
"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
The US: A Decentralized Approach
Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the state level amid federal stalemate.
- Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.
Despite widespread concern and proposals from various politicians to copy the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Perspectives
Beyond these regions, other states are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global organizations adopt a more cautious position. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
As this international conversation evolves, the policies of Australia and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to wait for platforms to self-regulate.
