The Australian controversial move to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel restrictions.
- The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
- The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban could be "an tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has urged parents to block their kids from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic statement demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.
"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," said the parliamentarian supporting the initiative.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by robust data".
Previously, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.
Campaign organizations have raised concerns. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful online content contends that a simple age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and fit for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A Decentralized Approach
Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the regional government level due to federal gridlock.
- Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a measure barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access dependent on a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to copy this example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Views
Beyond these regions, further states are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, global bodies adopt a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The agency notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.
As this international discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and several other countries show that governments around the world are less and less content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
