Australia's bold action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
European Trend
Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of states are exploring comparable restrictions.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". The policy may be passed soon.
- Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," commented one parliamentarian behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the administration vowed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to create products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," said a prominent peer.
America: A Fragmented Approach
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.
- Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra time needing parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media profiles.
Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of these regions, additional states are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. Unicef has warned that social media bans carry risks and "could backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in safety.
As this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and others show that states around the world are less and less prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.
