🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a bill increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "based on strong data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization set up by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing harmful platform posts argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design products and services that are secure and fit for young users," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, action is largely occurring at the state level due to national gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from certain politicians to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from the West, additional nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "might backfire". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in safety.

Even as this global discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and others demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.