Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.
European Trend
Across Europe, a increasing number of states are considering similar bans.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law could be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in the Netherlands has advised families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age restriction is a good starting point," said a leading parliamentarian behind the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
Across Britain, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong evidence".
Earlier, interest built behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the issue.
Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a prominent peer.
The US: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the state level due to country-wide stalemate.
- Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a rule limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional time requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating parental consent for minors to open social media presences.
Even with bipartisan support and proposals from some politicians to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are similarly taking action.
- The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, world agencies take a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.
As this global conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that governments around the world are less and less content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
