Australia's bold policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are considering similar bans.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be enacted soon.
- Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to approve a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their kids from social media until 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the move does not establish binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," commented the parliamentarian behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive research".
Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. One foundation established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent child protection advocate.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, regulation is largely unfolding at the regional level due to country-wide gridlock.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has passed a bill prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed measures mandating adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to follow the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
International Perspectives
Beyond the West, other countries are also considering moves.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, global agencies strike a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.
Even as this global discussion unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.
