The Australian controversial move to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward comparable measures.
- The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted next year.
- Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
- In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a law raising the access age for using 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 similar move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a symbolic motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," stated one parliamentarian behind the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Eye
In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in strong data".
Last year, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the topic.
Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to disturbing online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.
"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are secure and suitable for young users," said a leading peer.
America: A State-by-State Picture
Across America, action is mostly unfolding at the local government level amid national inaction.
- The state of Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has signed a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws mandating guardian approval for minors to create social media presences.
Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various individuals to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Views
Beyond Europe and the US, further states are also exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.
But, global agencies strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in user protection.
While this global discussion continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments around the world are less and less willing to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.
