The Australian bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.
Across Europe Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering similar restrictions.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be passed soon.
- Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the options on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a law raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised families to block their kids from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a solid foundation," commented one European lawmaker supporting the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong research".
Earlier, support built behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.
"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are secure and fit for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.
America: A State-by-State Picture
Stateside, action is primarily happening at the regional level amid country-wide stalemate.
- Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
- Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra time dependent on adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.
Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Views
Apart from Europe and the US, further states are likewise taking action.
- The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
But, world organizations strike a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety.
While this international discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to self-regulate.
