🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are moving toward parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age limit is a useful starting point," commented one parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data".

Last year, support grew behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the state government level due to federal inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with additional use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to mimic the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the actions of Australia and its followers show that policymakers around the world are less and less content to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.