Australia's decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
Across Europe Trend
Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward comparable bans.
- The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted soon.
- Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools on the table".
- In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a bill increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A clear age barrier is a good starting point," said the MEP driving the measure.
Britain: A Watchful Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in strong research".
Earlier, interest gathered behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.
Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. One foundation set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design products and services that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
America: A State-by-State Approach
In the United States, action is mostly happening at the local level amid federal gridlock.
- The state of Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
- Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further time needing parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media presences.
Despite bipartisan support and calls from certain politicians to mimic this example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Beyond the West, other countries are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world bodies take a more nuanced tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve safety.
Even as this international discussion evolves, the actions of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
