🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive action to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's youth". The policy may be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a law increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a similar step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a solid first step," said the MEP supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, support gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous online content suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills demanding guardian approval for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to follow this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Apart from Europe and the US, other states are also taking action.

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

However, global bodies adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.