🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial action to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

In Europe, a rising number of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". A law could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," said one MEP supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and fit for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, legislation is primarily occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to copy this example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, other states are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

As this international discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less prepared to wait for the industry to self-regulate.