Australia's controversial action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.
The European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring comparable bans.
- Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's childhood". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to enact a bill raising 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 children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a good first step," said the European lawmaker driving the measure.
Britain: A Cautious Eye
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong data".
Last year, support grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the matter.
Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering disturbing online content contends that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading online safety campaigner.
America: A State-by-State Landscape
Across America, regulation is mostly happening at the local level amid country-wide inaction.
- Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- The state of Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to copy the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Outlook
Outside of the West, other states are similarly taking action.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
But, international bodies adopt a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.
While this global debate evolves, the actions of this nation and others indicate that states internationally are less and less prepared to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.
