🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are observing closely to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to pass a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," stated a leading MEP behind the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization established by the family of a girl who was lost after being exposed to disturbing social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, action is mostly happening at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted laws mandating adult authorization for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain politicians to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, other nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies strike a more measured position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this global conversation continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.