🔗 Share this article

The nation's bold move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". A law is expected to be formalized next year.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for under-16s without parental consent is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a solid first step," said one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "supported by conclusive data".

Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are appropriate and fit for minors," commented a influential peer.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly happening at the regional government level due to national stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and calls from some politicians to copy the Australian example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Apart from the West, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world agencies strike a more cautious stance. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

While this international debate continues, the policies of this nation and others show that governments internationally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.