The Australian controversial move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.
The European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's youth". The policy may be formalized next year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The government in the Netherlands has advised families to block their children from social media before 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is provided. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," commented the MEP supporting the measure.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust evidence".
Last year, interest grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration committed to investigate the topic.
Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a influential peer.
The US: A Decentralized Landscape
In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the state level due to country-wide stalemate.
- Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has passed a regulation limiting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding parental consent for minors to open social media profiles.
Despite bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to mimic the Australian example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, further states are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.
However, international organizations adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.
Even as this global conversation unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers show that governments globally are less and less prepared to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.
