🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy could be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful first step," said one European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, support gathered behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization established by the family of a young person who died after encountering dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further time needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various individuals to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Beyond these regions, further countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.