Australia's decisive policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.
The European Momentum
Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are exploring parallel measures.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "stealing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "an options in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The administration in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a good first step," said a leading MEP behind the measure.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance
For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust research".
Previously, interest grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," said a influential peer.
America: A State-by-State Picture
Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the local level due to national gridlock.
- Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has signed a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted bills requiring parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.
Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from various politicians to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.
Worldwide Perspectives
Apart from the West, other nations are also exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.
However, global organizations adopt a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.
As this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of the Australian government and others indicate that governments globally are no longer willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
