🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that smartphones and networks are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to approve a law lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without parental consent is given. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age limit is a good first step," said the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government pledged to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced laws requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from certain figures to mimic this path, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies take a more measured stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.

While this international discussion evolves, the actions of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to self-regulate.