The Australian bold policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are watching closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
The European Trend
Across Europe, a increasing number of states are moving toward similar measures.
- Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon.
- Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "an options under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to pass a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The government in the Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive research".
Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government committed to investigate the topic.
Charities have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to create products and services that are secure and suitable for minors," stated a prominent child protection advocate.
The US: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the regional government level due to federal inaction.
- Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has passed a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to create social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Perspectives
Beyond these regions, further countries are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
However, global agencies strike a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.
Even as this international debate evolves, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are no longer content to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.
