🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing chorus of states are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be formalized next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have stated that an similar ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked parliament to pass a proposal raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," said one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Last year, interest grew behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," said a influential child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local government level amid federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law capping minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various individuals to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond the West, further nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, world agencies take a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the steps of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.