The Australian bold move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.
"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye
Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive research".
Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.
Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are safe and suitable for minors," said a influential peer.
The US: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, action is mostly happening at the local level due to country-wide inaction.
- The state of Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a law banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.
Even with bipartisan support and calls from various individuals to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Views
Apart from these regions, other nations are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
Yet, international organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
Even as this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and others indicate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.
