🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising number of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". A law may be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to approve a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not establish binding law.

"A strong age limit is a solid starting point," said one European lawmaker driving the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "based on robust data".

Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local government level amid national gridlock.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to follow the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of these regions, further states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more measured position. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety.

While this international debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.