The Australian decisive policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering comparable restrictions.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation could be formalized soon.
- Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to pass a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to restrict their children from social media until 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic motion calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.
"A strong age limit is a solid starting point," said the MEP supporting the measure.
Britain: A Cautious Eye
Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust data".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," said a influential peer.
America: A Fragmented Landscape
Across America, legislation is mostly occurring at the local level due to federal inaction.
- Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding adult authorization for under-16s to create social media profiles.
Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to copy this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
International Views
Beyond the West, additional countries are likewise exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
However, global bodies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.
As this global discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.
