The Australian bold move to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering similar bans.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law is expected to be passed next year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the options under consideration".
- In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the move does not enact mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a good first step," said one MEP driving the resolution.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "based on strong data".
Earlier, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.
Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens reach the legal age.
"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.
- The state of Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has approved a rule capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills demanding adult authorization for under-16s to create social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
International Outlook
Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are also exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.
However, global bodies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
Even as this international discussion continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.
