🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising number of states are exploring comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be enacted next year.
• Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors without parental consent is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a good first step," said a leading parliamentarian behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "supported by strong data".

Previously, interest built behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a girl who died after encountering harmful online content suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the regional level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some politicians to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from these regions, other countries are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations adopt a more nuanced stance. Unicef has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly prepared to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.