Australia's controversial action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Movement
Across Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring parallel measures.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "an tools on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the president has called on lawmakers to approve a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age barrier is a good foundation," said the MEP supporting the resolution.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong research".
Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.
Charities have raised warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who died after encountering disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a prominent peer.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state level amid national stalemate.
- The state of Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.
Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain individuals to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Beyond the West, further nations are also exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.
However, international bodies adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.
Even as this international debate unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers indicate that states internationally are increasingly content to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.
