🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold move to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing number of nations are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that phones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. Although it warns of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," stated one parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various figures to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further states are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world bodies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve safety.

Even as this global discussion continues, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to self-regulate.