The nation's controversial move to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Movement
Across Europe, a rising number of countries are considering comparable bans.
- Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized soon.
- Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an similar ban remains "a potential tools on the table".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion calling for a ban for minors without parental consent is granted. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these services, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.
"A strong age restriction is a useful first step," commented a leading MEP behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach
In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive research".
Last year, support grew behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to further research the matter.
Charities have expressed concerns. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a leading peer.
The US: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, action is largely happening at the state level due to federal stalemate.
- Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with extra use needing parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media presences.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.
Worldwide Outlook
Apart from the West, additional nations are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world agencies strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.
Even as this worldwide debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.
