🔗 Share this article

The Australian decisive move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," stated one MEP supporting the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in robust research".

Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who died after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban may not protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," stated a leading peer.

America: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to copy Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, further countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, global agencies strike a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "could backfire". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states internationally are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.