Australia's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.
Across Europe Trend
Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring parallel bans.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "an tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors without guardian approval is provided. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," stated one parliamentarian supporting the initiative.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on robust research".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Approach
In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of national stalemate.
- Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating adult authorization for under-16s to create social media accounts.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Perspectives
Apart from these regions, other states are similarly considering moves.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, international organizations take a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.
While this international discussion continues, the steps of Australia and others show that states internationally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.
