Australia's decisive move to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Trend
Across Europe, a growing number of nations are moving toward comparable bans.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's innocence". A law may be passed next year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," commented the parliamentarian behind the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".
Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government pledged to investigate the issue.
Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people turn 16.
"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for young users," said a leading online safety campaigner.
The US: A Decentralized Approach
In the United States, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid country-wide stalemate.
- The state of Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- Florida has signed a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures mandating parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are similarly exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, global bodies take a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve safety.
Even as this international discussion continues, the steps of this nation and others indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.
