🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a rising group of states are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy may be enacted soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban is "an options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to enact a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," commented a leading MEP behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Earlier, support grew behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, legislation is largely occurring at the local level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from these regions, additional states are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies take a more measured stance. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this global debate evolves, the actions of Australia and others indicate that policymakers globally are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.